Headrest with speaker

Abstract

Headrest (10) for a vehicle seat with a head part (11) and with a holding device (33) for attachment to the vehicle seat, wherein the head part (11) comprises a base (16) with a receiving space (32a, 32b) in which at least one loudspeaker (20a, 20b) is attached, wherein the base (16) provides structures for each loudspeaker (20a, 20b) which form a sound channel (27), wherein a gap (42) is formed between the loudspeaker (20a, 20b) and the sound channel (27), which gap is sealed with a seal (21).

Description

[0001] According to a first aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a headrest with a loudspeaker for a vehicle.

[0002] Loudspeaker headrests are known from obvious prior use. The loudspeaker is attached to a headrest. A section of the upholstery in front of the loudspeaker outlet was cut out to allow sound propagation. A cover was made of a sound-permeable material.

[0003] In such prior-art headrests, the speaker was sealed to the headrest with a gasket. Screws or clips were used for fastening, pre-tensioning the rigid gasket. This pre-tensioning deformed the plastic, causing leaks and potentially rattling noises.

[0004] EP 4 122 758 A1 describes a headrest in which two loudspeakers are attached to a main body of the headrest. The loudspeakers are mounted on the main body by transducers surrounded by seals to prevent acoustic leakage into the main body.

[0005] According to EP 3 802 210 B1, a pad ring 344 is formed, which forms an acoustic seal.

[0006] DE 10 2022 121 712 A1 relates to a method for producing a headrest for a vehicle seat, wherein at least two loudspeakers are mounted on a base part. The headrest is partially manufactured using an in-situ process.

[0007] The object of the invention was to create a headrest that avoids such leaks, vibrations and rattling noises.

[0008] The problem was solved by a headrest having the features of claim 1.

[0009] The headrest is intended for a vehicle. For example, the headrest is part of a vehicle seat, and is attached to the backrest of the vehicle seat. For the purposes of the invention, the term "vehicle" can refer to a land vehicle, an aircraft vehicle, or a water vehicle.

[0010] The headrest comprises a headrest and a mounting device for attachment to a vehicle seat. The mounting device can, for example, have support rods. The headrest comprises a base with a receiving space in which at least one loudspeaker is mounted. The base provides structures for each loudspeaker that form and define a sound channel. The sound emerging from the loudspeaker can travel through the sound channel from the headrest to the seat occupant.

[0011] A gap is formed between the loudspeaker and the sound channel, which is sealed with a gasket. The gap runs along an x-axis, which is parallel to a sagittal axis relative to a seat occupant. In other words, the gap extends parallel to a longitudinal central axis that runs from a rear to a front end of the headrest. The gasket prevents sound from propagating in undesired directions.

[0012] The headrest has a sound channel. The sound channel may be formed, for example, by the front shell, the rear shell, or the rear shell and the front shell together. The sound can propagate from the speaker cone to an outlet on the headrest—for example, at the front of the headrest.

[0013] In principle, sound exiting at the rear could also be considered if the sound is not intended to reach the seat occupant, but rather a passenger in the rear row of seats. The sound channel can also be split due to a split in the base of the headrest.

[0014] The seal is designed, for example, as a foam seal. Along the length of the gap, the foam seal has a length of approximately 1 mm length / 10 mm diameter or 1 mm length / 5 mm radius of the speaker. For oval speakers, the aforementioned ratio can be used, for example, for a minimum or maximum radius. For a speaker diameter of 60 mm, the length is approximately 4 mm to 8 mm, particularly 5 or 6 mm. These values have been shown to provide good stability and good elastic properties. Using the stated values, a high degree of resilience can be achieved.

[0015] The seal is mounted under pre-tension so that dimensional deviations from the nominal size are compensated by the recovery elasticity of the seal in such a way that a complete seal is always achieved.

[0016] The advantage of the invention is, among other things, that a secure seal is achieved even with a large number of installed parts that are crucial for the formation of the gap and that may all have dimensional inaccuracies. Furthermore, the seal according to the invention prevents vibrations and rattling noises in the headrest.

[0017] The base, for example, comprises at least two parts. Typically, the base is composed of more than one part. This makes it easier to mount components in the base's receiving space.

[0018] The base components include, for example, a front shell and a rear shell, which form a receiving cavity. The front shell is attached, for example, to the rear shell. The loudspeaker is mounted, for example, in a receiving cavity of the base, which can be formed by the front shell and / or the rear shell. This means that either one of the shells forms the cavity, or both shells form it together. The loudspeaker is attached, for example, to one of the shells of the front shell and rear shell.

[0019] If the loudspeaker and the structures forming the sound channel are attached to the same shell, the seal must be installed during the loudspeaker assembly. If the structures are formed on one of the shells, e.g., the front shell, and the loudspeaker is mounted on the rear shell, the seal can be installed before the shells are assembled, with the loudspeaker already attached. At least one of the shells forms structures that form the sound channel.

[0020] The speaker, for example, is attached to the rear shell of the base. The sound channel structures are formed, for example, on the front shell. The seal can then be attached to the speaker or to the structures, for example, so that the gap is sealed when the rear and front shells are assembled.

[0021] At least one of the shells, especially one of the structures defining the sound channel, has a seat for the seal, for example. The seal can then be secured in the seat, providing a secure hold during further assembly.

[0022] In principle, the seal can be assigned to, or specifically attached to, the rear shell or the front shell. In this case, the rear shell and the front shell can be assembled more easily, as the seal is already attached to one of the parts. Damage or incorrect assembly, and resulting leaks, can thus be avoided.

[0023] At least one cable connected to the speaker, e.g., a power supply or data cable, is routed from the rear shell and connected to the vehicle's power supply and data networks. By mounting the speaker on the rear shell, for example, the cable can be routed securely—for example, if the rear shell is secured to the seat by a retaining device—since it doesn't need to be routed to the front shell.

[0024] The cable is routed, for example, from the vehicle's power supply in or on the mounting bracket to the rear shell. A connector can be attached to the rear shell, into which a speaker cable with a plug can be plugged. This prevents damage to the cable when assembling the rear shell and front shell. Installation is also simplified.

[0025] The base is equipped with a cushion and, if necessary, a cover. The base can be equipped with a cushion so that the seat occupant's head, when it hits the headrest, hits a flexible material that absorbs energy. This can prevent injuries. The sound channel, for example, is kept clear of the cushion.

[0026] Alternatively, the sound channel can be at least partially filled with a sound-permeable foam material separate from the cushion, e.g., a foam pad, to ensure the most unhindered sound propagation possible in the direction of the sound exit from the headpiece. According to a further alternative, the sound channel can also be partially recessed and partially covered with sound-permeable foam.

[0027] For example, the seal is designed as a ring. In this case, the seal is easier to install than if the seal comprises two loose end sections that must be connected.

[0028] The foam seal, for example, can be round or square in cross-section. However, the shape of the seal is not the primary consideration.

[0029] The material of the seal is e.g. polyurethane or polyurethane is a component, in particular an essential component of the seal.

[0030] The manufacture of a headrest for a vehicle seat with a head section and with a holding device for attaching the head section to a vehicle seat is described below. The head section comprises a base with a receiving space in which at least one loudspeaker is attached. The base provides structures for each loudspeaker that form a sound channel. A gap is formed between the loudspeaker and the sound channel, which gap is sealed with a seal. The seal has a length of approximately 1 mm / 10 mm diameter of the loudspeaker in the longitudinal extent of the gap. For a loudspeaker with a diameter of 60 mm, the length of the seal is, for example, 4 mm to 8 mm, in particular 5 or 6 mm. The seal is mounted in such a way that it is under prestress after installation.

[0031] The base, for example, comprises at least two parts that are assembled together. This makes it easier to mount the speaker in the recording space. The shells are then attached to each other after the speaker is mounted.

[0032] The base, for example, comprises a front shell and a rear shell, and the speaker is attached to the rear shell. In this case, the cable can be routed securely if it is routed from the rear shell—for example, via the retaining device—into the vehicle seat. There's no need for excess cable to be routed to the front shell, which could be damaged during assembly of the front and rear shells.

[0033] The base is provided with a cushion and, if necessary, a cover. The cushion is made of a flexible material and absorbs energy when the seat occupant's head hits it, thus reducing the risk of injury.

[0034] Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example in the following description of the figures, also with reference to the drawings. For the sake of clarity, identical or comparable parts, elements, or regions are designated by identical reference numerals, sometimes with the addition of lowercase letters, even where different embodiments are concerned.

[0035] Features that are described only in relation to one embodiment can also be provided in any other embodiment of the invention within the scope of the invention.

[0036] All disclosed features are essential to the invention in themselves.

[0037] Further advantages arise from the embodiment shown in the following schematic drawings.

[0038] They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a headrest with loudspeaker device, Fig. 2 an exploded view of a base of the head part of the headrest according to Fig. 1, wherein a holding device, the cushion and the cover are not shown, Fig. 3 a front view of a rear shell of the base with a mounted loudspeaker, whereby a seat for another loudspeaker is shown without a loudspeaker for the sake of clarity, Fig. 4 a perspective view of a front shell of the base with loudspeaker and seal in exploded view, Fig. 5 a sectional view through the headrest according to Fig. 1, which shows a sagittal section, Fig. 6 a section view according to section line VI in Fig. 5,

[0039] The headrest according to the invention for a vehicle seat is designated in the figures by the reference number 10.

[0040] The headrest 10 comprises according to Fig. 1 a head part 11 and a holding device 33, which in this example is in the form of a support bar bracket with free end areas 12a and 12b and with a cross member 39 (in Fig. 1). The head part 11 comprises a cover 13 with at least one perforation area 14 having a plurality of openings. The perforation area 14 is designed to allow the sound from loudspeakers 20a and 20b housed in the head part 11 to better pass through the cover 13. The perforation area 14 is located facing the seat occupant on a head support surface 15 of the head part 11.

[0041] The headrest 10 is oriented in direction x1, i.e., in the direction of travel when driving straight ahead, according to the associated vehicle seat (not shown), so that it can provide a support for the head of a seat occupant striking the head support surface 15. The directions z1 and z2 are parallel to a vertical axis, and the directions x1 and x2 are parallel to a sagittal axis of a seat occupant. The directions y1 and y2 are perpendicular to the x-axis and the z-axis.

[0042] In Fig. Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a base 16 of the head part 11, which in this example has a front shell 17 and a rear shell 18. The front shell 17 is provided with centering means 23a, which interact with centering means 23b of the rear shell 18 to center the front shell 17 on the rear shell 18. The attachment is achieved by means of fastening means 24, indicated only by a dash-dotted line, here, for example, in the form of screws 31.

[0043] In the front shell 17, two aperture areas 25a and 25b with a plurality of openings are visible through which the sound from the loudspeakers 20a and 20b can penetrate the front shell 17. Each loudspeaker 20a and 20b is assigned a respective aperture area 25a and 25b.

[0044] The rear shell 18 has two receiving recesses 32a and 32b, in which fastening structures 19 for attaching the loudspeakers 20a and 20b are formed. In the present example, two fastening structures 19 are provided for each loudspeaker 20a and 20b in each of two receiving recesses 32a and 32b. In this example, the loudspeakers 20a and 20b are held to the fastening structures 19 with screws 34.

[0045] A seat 22a for the loudspeaker 20a and a seat 22b for the loudspeaker 20b are formed by means of the fastening structures 19. The loudspeakers therefore have a defined position relative to the rear shell 18, which is subject to dimensional deviations within the permissible tolerances.

[0046] To ensure that the sound from the loudspeakers 20a and 20b is emitted in a directed manner and does not spread sideways into the receiving spaces 32a and 32b, the head part 11 has a sound channel 27a and 27b for each loudspeaker 20a and 20b. This channel is formed here by an annular projection 26 of the respective loudspeaker 20a and 20b attached to the rear shell 18 and by an annular wall 40 of the front shell. Other structures of the rear shell 18 and the front shell 17 can also alternatively form the sound channel 27.

[0047] The structures of the front shell 17 and the structures of the rear shell 18 that form the sound channel 27, here the annular projection 26 and the annular wall 40, are in a sealed relationship after assembly and form a gap 42. To prevent the sound from escaping laterally from the sound channel 27a or 27b through the gap 42 between the annular projection 26 and the annular wall 40, a seal 21 is provided that seals the gap 42. The seal 21 is in Fig. 2 recognizable.

[0048] According to Fig. 3 shows the rear shell 18 with a loudspeaker 20b mounted therein. The loudspeaker 20a in the seat 22a is indicated only by a dashed line for the sake of clarity. Furthermore, Fig. Three electrical connectors 28 for the loudspeakers 20a and 20b are visible, with which each loudspeaker 20a or 20b, in this example, can be connected with a separate plug connection. For this purpose, each loudspeaker 20a and 20b has a cable 35 and a plug 36.

[0049] In Fig. 4, the front shell 17 is shown with the opening areas 25a and 25b. The front shell 17 comprises the annular wall 40 with a seat 29a and a seat 29b for the seal 21 of each loudspeaker 20a and 20b. Each seat 29a and 29b is formed in the respective annular wall 40. In addition, Fig. 4 shows that the front shell 17 forms complementary structures 37a and 37b for each receiving recess 32a and 32b. The receiving recesses 32a and 32b are also in sealing engagement with the complementary structures 37a and 37b, so that together they also prevent unwanted lateral sound leakage through the annular wall 40.

[0050] Fig. Figure 5 shows the head part 11 without the holding device 33 in the assembled state, with the rear shell 18 and the front shell 17 fastened to each other. The head part 11 is according to Fig. 5 is padded with a pad 30 made of rigid foam. The pad 30 rests against the front shell 17 and the rear shell 18 and is covered by a cover 13. A sound-permeable foam 38 is formed in the openings 25a and 25b in the area of the sound channel 27.

[0051] In the prior art, the sound channel seal was made of a hard material. Dimensional inaccuracies or warping of the headrest due to mechanical stress could lead to leaks. According to the invention, the seal 21 is made of a soft foam material, which, with respect to the direction x in which the gap 42 extends, has a thickness of 4 to 8 mm, in particular 5 to 6 mm for a loudspeaker diameter of 60 mm. Thus, the seal 21 has a high elastic recovery deformability in the direction x. The deformation residue of the seal 21 is low.

[0052] In this example, the seal 21 is arranged between the rear shell 18 and the front shell 17. Alternatively, the seal of at least one loudspeaker mounted in the front shell 17 could also be arranged between the loudspeaker and a structure of the front shell 17.

[0053] The enlarged detail view according to Fig. 6 shows the seal 21 in the seat 22b of the front shell 17. In the assembly situation according to Fig. 6, the seal 21 is arranged in a seat 22b of the front shell, wherein the seat 22b is formed by the annular wall 40.

[0054] The annular projection 26 of the loudspeaker 20b rests with an end face 41 against the seal 21, placing a preload on it. The preload, i.e., the deformation of the seal 21, is selected to be large enough in the x direction that dimensional deviations on the rear shell 18 and the front shell 17 cannot lead to leaks. In this way, dimensional deviations within the tolerance range can be compensated, preventing the loudspeaker from becoming acoustically leaky.

[0055] The structures that form the sound channel 27 in this example are the annular projection 26 of the respective loudspeaker 20a or 20b and the respective annular wall 40. Alternatively, other structures could also form the sound channel 27. This is not important. Essential to the invention is the seal 21, which closes the gap 42 – which can be formed between different structures that delimit the sound channel 27. 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] EP 4 122 758 A1

[0004] EP 3 802 210 B1

[0005] DE 10 2022 121 712 A1

[0006]

Claims

[1] Headrest (10) for a vehicle seat with a head part (11) and with a holding device (33) for attachment to the vehicle seat, wherein the head part (11) comprises a base (16) with a receiving space (32a, 32b) in which at least one loudspeaker (20a, 20b) is attached, wherein the base (16) provides structures for each loudspeaker (20a, 20b) which form a sound channel (27), wherein a gap (42) is formed between the loudspeaker (20a, 20b) and the sound channel (27), which gap is sealed with a seal (21). [2] Headrest according to claim 1, characterized by that the seal (21) has a length of approximately 1 mm length / 10 mm diameter in the longitudinal extension of the gap (42). [3] Headrest according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the base (16) comprises at least two parts. [4] Headrest according to claim 3, characterized by that the parts comprise a front shell (17) and a rear shell (18). [5] Headrest according to claim 4, characterized by that the front shell (17) is attached to the rear shell (18). [6] Headrest according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the loudspeaker (20a, 20b) is attached to the rear shell (18) of the base (16). [7] Headrest according to claim 6, characterized by that at least one cable (35) connected to the loudspeaker (20a, 20b) is led out of the rear shell (18) and connected to a power supply network and / or a data network of the vehicle. [8] Headrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the structures forming the sound channel (27) form a seat (29) for the seal (21). [9] Headrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the base (16) is provided with a cushion (30) and, if necessary, with a cover (13). [10] Headrest according to claim 9, characterized bythat in the region of the sound channel (27) a sound-permeable foam material, in particular a foam pad (38), is arranged instead of the cushion (30). [11] Headrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the seal (21) is designed as a ring. [12] Headrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the seal (21) is round or square in cross-section. [13] Headrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the seal (21) consists of polyurethane or essentially comprises polyurethane as a component.

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