Bellows for a vehicle seat, as well as a vehicle seat with such a bellows

Abstract

Bellows (1) for a vehicle seat (2) for covering the underbody of this vehicle seat (2), wherein the bellows (1) has an upper end and a lower end, between which an accordion-shaped telescopic section (8) is formed, which has at least one fold (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) made of a textile material.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an accordion-shaped bellows for a vehicle seat for covering the substructure of the vehicle seat and to a vehicle seat with such a bellows which covers the substructure of the vehicle seat.

[0002] Bellows are known from the prior art; they serve to cover the space between the seat cushion and the area where the vehicle seat is connected to a driver's cab. This is particularly necessary for suspended vehicle seats because the distance between the seat cushion and the vehicle floor changes due to a mechanically or pneumatically suspended oscillation system. Therefore, a vertically flexible device must cover this space to prevent the risk of injury. If this space were not covered, a part of the body of a vehicle occupant could accidentally become trapped between the elements of the oscillation system moving against each other. Such bellows thus serve to cover large dimensional differences. The same applies when additional degrees of freedom are present, for example when adjusting the inclination of the vehicle seat.

[0003] Such bellows are known in many different designs. What they have in common is that they have an upper and lower circumferential edge, which is usually rigid and which is firmly connected to the seat component, for example an upper frame of a vibration system, or to the base of the vehicle seat, for example the upper frame of the vibration system. In between, there is a fold area whose extent varies in the vertical direction. The most common design of the folds is comparable to an accordion. Each fold is made up of two sections, one of which extends diagonally outwards and downwards when assembled, and a second section which adjoins it diagonally inwards and downwards.In this application, the outwardly extending parts are referred to as upper folds, the inwardly extending parts are referred to as lower folds, and an upper fold in conjunction with the lower fold associated with it is referred to as a fold.

[0004] Also known from the prior art is a circular bellows in which, instead of upper and lower folds, the pleat area has essentially vertically extending slats arranged horizontally offset from one another. The lower end of one slat is connected to the upper end of the adjacent slat via a rolling layer. In this case, the slats are usually made of a thicker, stiffer material than the rolling layers formed between them, which are made of a thinner, more flexible material.

[0005] All of these known bellows are made of a black or gray plastic material, so that the vibration system behind them is not visible for aesthetic reasons. This monotonous black or gray design of the bellows makes it impossible to individually adapt to the overall impression of the vehicle seat, especially in the context of the entire driver's cabin. Manufacturing the bellows known from the state of the art requires a tool, which is associated with high costs, making the production of such bellows only worthwhile for large-scale production.

[0006] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a bellows and a vehicle seat with a bellows, in which the bellows can be produced profitably even for smaller series and thus better individualization is possible.

[0007] The object is achieved according to the invention by a bellows having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle seat having the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

[0008] According to this invention, the object is achieved by a bellows in which the bellows serves to cover the substructure of a vehicle seat, wherein the bellows has an upper end and a lower end, between which an accordion-shaped telescopic region is formed, which has at least one fold made of a textile material. As a result, the bellows no longer has to be manufactured using expensive tools, but can be individually tailored to individual vehicle seats or inexpensively manufactured in small series. Furthermore, the design according to the invention is also suitable for mass production. This provides great flexibility for responding to special features of individual vehicle seats and individual wishes of the buyer, both in aesthetic and technical terms.

[0009] Preferably, all pleats—and thus also their individual components—are made of a textile material. Suitable textile materials for the individual pleats include woven fabrics, warp-knitted fabrics, and nonwovens, as well as felt.

[0010] A further advantageous development of the invention provides that each fold has an upper fold that extends diagonally outward and downward in the assembled state, and a lower fold that extends diagonally inward and downward in the assembled state. This design corresponds to the construction of known PVC bellows and ensures reliable and proven functionality.

[0011] A further advantageous development of the invention provides that each upper fold and each lower fold consist of a textile cutout, with adjacent upper folds and lower folds being connected, in particular sewn, to one another. This allows for a simple and cost-effective construction of a bellows, resulting in excellent telescopic adjustability of the bellows. Sewing is a particularly simple, effective, and secure joining technique between two parts made of textile materials.

[0012] A further advantageous development of the invention provides that the upper pleats and the lower pleats adjoining them are connected to one another by means of a system consisting of a closing seam and a felled seam. This is therefore the case wherever the upper and lower pleats meet as a peak seam. Preferably, the closing seam in these seam systems is not visible from the outside. Since the peak seams face the viewer—in contrast to the valley seams, which are formed on the inside of the bellows—a better aesthetic appearance can be achieved for the viewer, as they cannot see the closing seam and the felled seam can be designed as a decorative seam.

[0013] A further advantageous development of the invention provides that the lower folds and the upper folds adjoining them are connected by a closing seam. In contrast, only one closing seam is present at each of the valley seams. This does not impair the aesthetics, as it is not noticeable to the observer because the valley seams are formed on the inside of the bellows.

[0014] A further advantageous development of the invention provides that the upper end is formed by an upper fastening part and the lower end by a lower fastening part, wherein the fastening parts are made of a textile material, in particular a felt material, and are connected to the telescopic area. This separates the telescoping function from the fastening function, and the parts assigned to these functions can thus be manufactured in such a way that they optimally enable the respective function.

[0015] A further advantageous development of the invention provides that each fastening part is sewn to an upper fold or a lower fold using a single seam, preferably using closing seams. The transition part is also sewn to the telescopic section, preferably twice using a combination of a closing seam and a felled seam, with the closing seam in particular not being visible from the outside. Sewing is a particularly simple, effective, and secure joining technique between two parts made of textile materials. The invisible seam also results in a more aesthetically pleasing appearance of the bellows.

[0016] A further advantageous development of the invention provides for a transition fold with a significantly shorter upper fold compared to the lower fold to be arranged on the upper fastening part. This allows the bellows to be easily attached to the upper swing frame, even if the upper swing frame is significantly wider than the lower swing frame, compensating for the width difference between the two swing frames.

[0017] A further advantageous development of the invention provides that the zeroth upper fold is sewn to the upper fastening part by a simple closing seam and to the telescopic area by a transitional seam system, preferably consisting of an inner closing seam and an outer fell seam. The closing seam is particularly invisible from the outside. As a joining technique between two parts made of textile materials, sewing is particularly simple, effective, and secure. The invisible seam also results in a more aesthetic appearance of the bellows.

[0018] A further advantageous development of the invention provides for mounting holes on the upper and / or lower mounting parts. This allows for a simple and secure connection of the bellows to the vehicle seat at a precisely defined position.

[0019] The problem is also solved by a vehicle seat with a bellows according to the invention, wherein the bellows covers the base of the vehicle seat. This results in the advantages listed above for the bellows.

[0020] An advantageous development of the invention provides that the bellows is connected at its upper end to an upper oscillating frame of a vehicle seat's oscillating system, and at its lower end to a lower oscillating frame of the oscillating system via connecting means, which are mounted in particular in mounting holes. This conceals the mechanism of the oscillating system, which, on the one hand, prevents the occupant from trapping any body part in the oscillating system and, on the other hand, improves the aesthetics of the vehicle seat.

[0021] Further details and advantages of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 an oblique view of a vehicle seat according to the invention with bellows according to the invention, Fig. 2 a front view of the vehicle seat Fig. 1, Fig. 3a-3c schematic representations of the right part of the bellows according to the invention of Fig. 2 with different reference symbol systems with regard to the functional groups of the bellows, Fig. 4 a compilation of all cuts of the individual parts from which the bellows of the Fig. 1 to 3c, Fig. 5 the cutting of the upper cover part of the Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale, Fig. 6 the cutting of the transition part of the Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale, Fig. 7 - 15 cuts of the upper and lower folds of the Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale, Fig. 16 the cutting of the lower cover part of the Fig. 4 in enlarged scale and Fig. 17 a view of the bellows of the Fig. 1 to 3 from the bottom.

[0022] The embodiment shown in the figures is a bellows 1 which is attached to a height-adjustable vehicle seat 2.

[0023] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows two views of an embodiment of a height-adjustable vehicle seat 2 according to the invention, from two viewing directions. The oscillation device of the vehicle seat 2 is covered by an embodiment of a bellows 1 according to the invention. The bellows 1 is attached to a lower oscillating frame 13 and to an upper oscillating frame 12 (see Fig. 2), which is located beneath a seat cushion 14. The two oscillating frames 12, 13 are part of a not-shown oscillating system, by means of which the seat cushion 14 of the vehicle seat 2 can be varied in its distance from the lower oscillating frame 13. The lower oscillating frame 13 is mounted on a rail system 11 so that the vehicle seat 2 can be moved on a driver's cab floor (not shown). Typically, the vertical movement of the seat cushion 14 is effected by a pneumatic spring; all other oscillating systems known from the prior art can be used just as well.

[0024] In the Fig. 3a to 3c each schematically shows the right part of the bellows 1 from Fig. 2, with particular reference to the individual seams used being shown schematically.

[0025] In Fig. 3a shows the individual parts of the bellows 1 from top to bottom. The bellows 1 therefore has the following individual parts (which are shown in Fig. 4 are presented in a synopsis and in the Fig. 5 to 16 in detail and there in to Fig. 4 are shown at an enlarged scale): Upper fastening part 9; zeroth upper fold 7a; zeroth lower fold 7b; first upper fold 3a; first lower fold 3b; second upper fold 4a; second lower fold 4b; third upper fold 5a; third lower fold 5b; fourth upper fold 6a; fourth lower fold 6b; lower fastening part 10.

[0026] In this case, an upper fold 7a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a together with an associated lower fold 7b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b form a transition fold 7, a first fold 3, a second fold 4, a third fold 5 and a fourth fold 6. These five folds 7, 3, 4, 5, 6 form a telescopic area 8, in which the bellows 1 is variable in its length along the vertical; depending on the state of the oscillating system and the resulting vertical distance between the upper oscillating frame 12 and the lower oscillating frame 13. For this purpose, the individual parts 3a to 7b are each made of a textile material and are connected by seams - as described below with reference to the Fig. 3b and Fig. 3c in conjunction with the Fig. 6-15. The textile material for all individual parts 3a to 7b is a knitted fabric. The cuts of the individual parts 3a to 7b are each ring-shaped strips that extend in one plane (see Fig. 6-15). The uppermost fold – referred to here as the transition fold 7 – differs from the other folds 3, 4, 5, 6 in that its upper fold – referred to here as the zeroth upper fold 7a – is significantly shortened compared to the associated, directly underlying lower fold – referred to here as the zeroth lower fold 7b. This is due to the fact that the upper swing frame 12 is wider than the lower swing frame 13 and thus only a significantly shorter distance has to be bridged from the tip of the transition fold 7 to the upper fastening part 9 than is the case with the other folds 3, 4, 5, 6. This is also good from Fig. 4, where the width of the strip of the blank of the zeroth upper fold 7a is significantly smaller than the corresponding widths of the other blanks.

[0027] Fig. 3b shows schematically the seam systems and individual seams of the bellows 1, where in Fig. 3c shows the individual types of seams used schematically. Fig. 3b in conjunction with Fig. 3c (taking into account the Fig. 3a) the following can be clearly seen:

[0028] The zeroth lower fold 7b is connected in the region of its inner edge via a first valley seam 19a consisting of a closing seam 21 to the region of the inner edge of the first upper fold 3a. In the region of its outer edge, the first upper fold 3a is connected to the region of the outer edge of the first lower fold 3b via a first mountain seam system 19b consisting of an inner closing seam 21 and an outer fell seam 22. The first lower fold 3b is connected in the region of its inner edge via a second valley seam 19c consisting of a closing seam 21 to the region of the inner edge of the second upper fold 4a. In the region of its outer edge, the second upper fold 4a is connected to the region of the outer edge of the second lower fold 4b via a second mountain seam system 19d consisting of an inner closing seam 21 and an outer fell seam 22.The second lower fold 4b is connected in the region of its inner edge via a third valley seam 19e, consisting of a closing seam 21, to the region of the inner edge of the third upper fold 5a. In the region of its outer edge, the third upper fold 5a is connected to the region of the outer edge of the third lower fold 5b via a third mountain seam system 19f, consisting of an inner closing seam 21 and an outer fell seam 22. The third lower fold 5b is connected in the region of its inner edge via a fourth valley seam 19g, consisting of a closing seam 21, to the region of the inner edge of the fourth upper fold 6a. In the region of its outer edge, the fourth upper fold 6a is connected to the region of the outer edge of the fourth lower fold 6b via a fourth mountain seam system 19h, consisting of an inner closing seam 21 and an outer fell seam 22.

[0029] In the area of ​​its inner edge, the fourth lower fold 6b is connected to the lower fastening part 10 via a lower fastening seam 17 in the form of a simple closing seam 21, wherein the lower fastening part 10 extends in the vertical direction and is connected to the lower swing frame 13 by means of fastening means 20 (see Fig. 17) which is connected to the lower fastening part 10 in fastening holes 15 (see Fig. 16). In the area of ​​its outer edge, the zeroth lower fold 7b is connected to the zeroth upper fold 7a by means of a transition seam system 18, consisting of an inner closing seam 21 and an outer fell seam 22. In the area of ​​its outer edge, the zeroth upper fold 7a is connected to the upper fastening part 9 by means of an upper fastening seam 16, in the form of a simple closing seam 21. The upper fastening part 9 runs vertically and is connected to the upper fastening part 9 by means of fastening means 20 (see Fig. 17), which are inserted into the fastening holes 15 formed on the upper fastening part 9 (see Fig. 5) are arranged, are connected to the upper swing frame 12. All upper and lower folds 3a to 7b are made of a textile material, namely a knitted fabric, and are each designed as annular strips extending in a plane (see also Fig. 4). The upper fastening part 9 and the lower fastening part 10 are each made of felt. The fastening means 20 are expanding rivets in the illustrated embodiment, but any other connecting means known to those skilled in the art can also be used.

[0030] Instead of the above-mentioned closing seams 21 or a combination of the system of closing seams 21 and felled seams 22, the seams can be made with any other seam type / seam combination / seam system known from the prior art, made from various types of yarn familiar to the person skilled in the art, which ensure a secure connection of the textile cutouts of the upper folds 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a and lower folds 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b and the fastening parts 9, 10. The yarn used can be the same color as the textile cutouts or a contrasting color to them. This allows for an individual design of the bellows 1 and meets the aesthetic requirements of the buyer. The individual design options are further enhanced by the fact that the textile cutouts used can be single-colored or multi-colored.

[0031] In Fig. 17 shows the bellows 1 viewed from below. The fastening elements 20 can be seen, which are inserted into the fastening holes 15 (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 16) of the two fastening parts 9, 10. The bellows 1 is shown in a position between the extreme positions, in which the height of the telescopic section 8 (see Fig. 3a) is approximately at a medium height setting of the oscillation system.

[0032] In summary, it can be said that a bellows 1 according to the invention, on the one hand, allows for an aesthetic design in the overall context of the vehicle seat 2 or the driver's cab, while concealing the covered components of the vehicle seat 2 - in particular the components of a vibration system. The use of a textile material for the bellows 1 ensures that various options for adapting and changing the visual appearance are available, for example through color and / or pattern variations. On the other hand, the technical implementation as a textile bellows 1 and its production, due to the use of individual textile cut-outs for the individual parts of the bellows 1, in contrast to a PVC bellows, no expensive tools are required, since production can be carried out, for example, by sewing the individual parts together. List of reference symbols 1 bellows 2 vehicle seats 3 first fold 3a first upper fold 3b first lower fold 4 second fold 4a second upper fold 4b second lower fold 5 third fold 5a third upper fold 5b third lower fold 6 fourth fold 6a fourth upper fold 6b fourth lower fold 7 Transition fold 7a zeroth upper fold 7b zeroth lower fold 8 Telescope range 9 upper fastening part 10 lower fastening part 11 Rail system 12 upper swing frame 13 lower swing frame 14 seat cushions 15 mounting hole 16 upper fastening seam 17 lower fastening seam 18 Transition seam system 19a first valley seam 19b first mountain seam system 19c second valley seam 19d second mountain seam system 19e third valley seam 19f third mountain seam system 19g fourth valley suture 19h fourth mountain seam system 20 fasteners 21 closing seam 22 felled seam

Claims

[1] Bellows (1) for a vehicle seat (2) for covering the substructure of this vehicle seat (2), wherein the bellows (1) has an upper end and a lower end, between which an accordion-shaped telescopic region (8) is formed, which has at least one fold (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) consisting of a textile material. [2] Bellows (1) according to claim 1, wherein all folds (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) consist of a textile material. [3] Bellows (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each fold (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) has an upper fold (3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a) which extends obliquely outwards and downwards in the assembled state, and a lower fold (3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b) which extends obliquely inwards and downwards in the assembled state. [4] Bellows (1) according to claim 3, wherein each upper fold (3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a) and each lower fold (3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b) each consist of a textile cut, wherein adjacent upper folds (3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a) and lower folds (3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b) are connected to one another, in particular sewn to one another. [5] Bellows (1) according to claim 4, wherein the upper folds (3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a) and the lower folds (3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b) adjoining them are connected to one another by means of a system comprising a closing seam (21) and a felled seam (22), wherein in particular the closing seam (21) is not visible from the outside. [6] Bellows (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the lower folds (3b, 4b, 5b, 7b) and the upper folds (3a, 4a, 5a, 6a) adjoining them are connected to one another by means of a closing seam (21). [7] Bellows (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper end is formed by an upper fastening part (9) and the lower end by a lower fastening part (10), wherein the fastening parts (9, 10) consist of a textile material, in particular of a felt material, and are connected to the telescopic region (8). [8] Bellows (1) according to claim 7, wherein each fastening part (9, 10) is sewn to an upper fold (7a) or a lower fold (6b) by means of a simple seam, preferably by means of closing seams (21). [9] Bellows (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a transition fold (7) with a greatly shortened upper fold (7a) compared to the lower fold (7b) is arranged on the upper fastening part (9). [10] Bellows (1) according to one of the claims 6 to 9, wherein fastening holes (15) are provided on the upper fastening part (9) and / or on the lower fastening part (10). [11] Vehicle seat (2) with a bellows (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bellows (1) covers the substructure of the vehicle seat (2). [12] Vehicle seat (2) according to claim 11, wherein the bellows (1) is connected with its upper end to an upper oscillating frame (12) of an oscillating system of the vehicle seat (2) and with its lower end to a lower oscillating frame (13) of the oscillating system via connecting means (20) which are mounted in particular in fastening holes (15).

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