VEHICLE SEAT WITH A SUSPENSION DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a spring device for cushioning pivoting movements of an upper part of the vehicle seat relative to a lower part of the vehicle seat about a pivot axis arranged in a vehicle seat longitudinal direction or vehicle seat width direction.

[0002] Such vehicle seats are known from the prior art, for example, from WO 2014 / 176130 A1. This document shows a vehicle seat that can be pivoted about a pivot axis and is mounted relative to the body by means of spring or damping devices. However, the arrangement of the spring or damping is very space-intensive. Other vehicle seats of this type are known from DE 499 488 C and CN 202 147 608 U.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to present a vehicle seat which has a space-saving and structurally and functionally improved suspension device compared to the prior art.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent patent claims.The core idea of the invention is to provide a vehicle seat with a spring device for cushioning pivoting movements of an upper part of the vehicle seat relative to a lower part of the vehicle seat about a pivot axis arranged to run in a vehicle seat longitudinal direction or vehicle seat width direction, wherein the spring device comprises a first spring bar that is elastically deformable in the transverse direction and a second spring bar that is elastically deformable in the transverse direction, wherein the transverse direction corresponds to the radial direction of the respective spring bar, wherein the upper part has a first lower portion and a second lower portion, wherein the first lower portion is at least operatively connected to the first spring bar and the second lower portion is at least operatively connected to the second spring bar in order to deform the first spring bar or the second spring bar when the upper part is pivoted.

[0005] Alternative formulations to the transverse direction can also be understood as the formulations "direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the spring rod" or "radial direction of the spring rod".

[0006] A spring rod is a rod that exhibits resilient properties and is elastically deformable, particularly in its transverse direction. When the rod is subjected to a load, the elastic deformation causes the spring rod to deform for a limited time, generating restoring forces that return the spring rod to its original state when the load is removed.

[0007] Further preferably, the first spring bar and the second spring bar and the pivot axis are arranged between the lower part and the upper part as seen in a vehicle seat height direction, whereby a further reduction in space can be achieved.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the pivot axis is preferably designed as a bearing axis and the pivot axis has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end of the pivot axis are non-rotatably connected to the suspension lower part.

[0009] It is also conceivable that the pivot axis is designed as a bearing shaft, i.e. that it is mounted in particular so as to be rotatable.

[0010] Further preferably, a first bearing block and a second bearing block are provided, which are each rigidly connected to the lower part and the first bearing block supports the first end of the pivot axis and the second bearing block supports the second end of the pivot axis.

[0011] According to a further preferred embodiment, the first spring bar has a first end and a second end, and the second spring bar has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first spring bar, the second end of the first spring bar, the first end of the second spring bar, and the second end of the second spring bar are connected, in particular rigidly connected, to the lower suspension part. This allows for significantly greater rigidity to be achieved. Likewise, a rigid connection also prevents undesired rotational movements of the spring bars from occurring when the spring bars are deformed, which could lead to undesired effects on the spring properties.

[0012] Further preferably, the first end of the first spring bar and the first end of the second spring bar are connected to the first bearing block and the second end of the first spring bar and the second end of the second spring bar are connected to the second bearing block.

[0013] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a third spring bar and optionally a fourth spring bar etc. can be provided.

[0014] Particularly preferably, the first spring bar and the second spring bar are arranged to extend in the vehicle seat longitudinal direction or vehicle seat width direction.

[0015] According to the invention, the first spring bar, the second spring bar and the pivot axis are arranged in a common plane, wherein the common plane in a normal operating state of the vehicle seat is parallel to a base plane formed from the vehicle seat longitudinal direction and a vehicle seat width direction.

[0016] A normal operating state means that the upper part is not pivoted relative to the lower part. A deflected operating state means that the upper part is pivoted relative to the lower part.

[0017] In particular, this means that in the deflected operating state, the pivoting of the upper part, depending on the direction, exerts a force on the respective spring rod and deforms it, causing the upper part to spring due to the elastic deformation of the respective spring rod.

[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment, the upper part has a first bulge and a second bulge, wherein the first bulge is in operative contact with the first spring bar and the second bulge is in operative contact with the second spring bar.

[0019] The fact that the spring rods are each in active contact with a corresponding bulge in the upper part ensures that undesirable side effects occur when the upper part is pivoted, for example slipping of the spring rod and a corresponding reduction in the return force.

[0020] Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0021] Further objects, advantages, and usefulness of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Fig. 1A Vehicle seat in a schematic representation in a normal operating state; Fig. 1B Vehicle seat according to Figure 1A according to a preferred embodiment; Fig. 1CVehicle seat according to Figure 1A according to a preferred embodiment; Fig. 2Aperspective view of the lower part; Fig. 2Bperspective view of the upper part; Fig. 3AUpper part according to Figure 2B according to a preferred embodiment; Fig. 3B upper part according to Figure 2B according to a preferred embodiment.

[0022] In the Figure 1Aa vehicle seat 1 according to the invention is shown according to a preferred embodiment, wherein the vehicle seat 1 is in a normal operating state, that is to say the upper part 3 is not pivoted relative to the lower part 4. The Figures 1A-1C are merely schematic representations.

[0023] The upper part 3 can be pivoted relative to the lower part 4 by means of a pivot axis 5. In the normal operating state 15, the upper part 3 is in operative contact with both a first spring bar 6 and a second spring bar 7, so that when the upper part 3 is pivoted relative to the lower part 4, at least one of the spring bars 6, 7 is deformed, thereby causing a spring effect.

[0024] In particular, the spring bars 6, 7 each have a first end 10, 12 and a second end 11, 13, wherein the first ends 10, 12 and the second ends 11, 13 are fixedly connected to the lower part 4. This means that the first ends 10, 12 and the second ends 11, 13 do not change their position relative to the lower part 4 when the upper part is pivoted. However, the spring bars 6, 7 are deformed by the pivoting. In particular, the first spring bar 6 is in operative contact with the upper part 3 by means of a first lower section 8 of the upper part 3, and the second spring bar 7 is in operative contact with the upper part 3 by means of a second lower section 9 of the upper part 3.

[0025] The Figure 1B shows the vehicle seat 1 of the Figure 1AAccording to a preferred embodiment, in the deflected operating state 16, that is, the upper part 3 is pivoted relative to the lower part 4, in particular clockwise. The dashed line represents the first end 10 of the first spring bar 6 and also the second end 11 of the first spring bar 6, which, as already mentioned, do not change their position when the upper part 3 is pivoted. The rest of the spring bar 6, however, is deformed, represented by the solid line. It can also be seen that the second spring bar 7 is no longer in operative contact with the upper part 3, since in the normal operating state 15 there was only operative contact between the upper part 3 and the second spring bar 7. A spring effect is achieved according to the embodiment of the Figure 1B caused by the respective deformed spring bar, in this case the first spring bar 6.

[0026] The Figure 1Cshows a further preferred embodiment of the vehicle seat of the Figure 1A , whereby both the first spring bar 6 and the second spring bar 7 are connected to the upper part 3. This means that pivoting the upper part 3 relative to the lower part 4 deforms both the first spring bar 6 and the second spring bar 7, represented by the solid lines. The dashed lines indicate the first ends 10, 12 and the second ends 11, 13.

[0027] Preferably, the spring bars 6, 7 could be connected to the upper part in a force-fitting or form-fitting manner, in particular by welding or bonding. For example, fittings (not shown here) could be provided on the upper part 3, which encompass the spring bars 6, 7 and connect the spring bars 6, 7 to the upper part 3.

[0028] In the Figure 2A1 shows a schematic representation of the lower part 4. The lower part 4 has a first lower section 20 and a second lower section 21, each of which is arranged perpendicular to the lower part 4. The first spring bar 6 and the second spring bar 7 are arranged between the first lower section 20 and the second lower section 21, wherein the spring bars 6, 7 can be arranged either in the vehicle seat longitudinal direction L or in the vehicle seat width direction B.

[0029] Furthermore, the first spring bar 6 has a first end 10 and a second end 11, wherein the first end 10 is connected to the first lower section 20 and the second end 11 is connected to the second lower section 21. Likewise, the second spring bar 7 has a first end 12 and a second end 3, wherein the first end 12 is connected to the first lower section 21 and the second end 13 is connected to the second lower section 21. Likewise, the pivot axis 5, about which the upper part 3 is pivotable, is schematically illustrated.

[0030] According to the arrangement of the spring bars 6, 7 in the vehicle seat longitudinal direction L or in the vehicle seat width direction B, the upper part 3, shown in the Figure 2B, arranged. The upper part 3 has on the underside, that is to say on a bottom side 22 as seen in the vehicle seat height direction H, a first rotary section 23 and a second rotary section 24 as well as the first lower part 8 and the second lower part 9, which are only shown schematically here. The first rotary section 23 and the second rotary section 24 are connected to the lower part 4 so that they can rotate about the pivot axis 5. Individual bolt elements (not shown here) are conceivable for each of the first rotary section 23 and the second rotary section 24. Alternatively, a bearing shaft (not shown here) is conceivable, which is connected to both the first rotary section 23 and the second rotary section 24.

[0031] In particular, the rotating sections 23, 24 are arranged between the first lower section 20 and the second lower section 21.

[0032] The Figures 3A and 3Bshow different designs of the underside 22 or the lower parts 8, 9.

[0033] The Figure 3A shows the upper part 3 with its underside 22, wherein the underside 22 has a first bulge 17 and a second bulge 18, which represent the first lower portion 8 and the second lower portion 9. In particular, the bulges 17, 18 are designed such that they are complementary to the spring bars 6, 7 in order to be able to at least partially accommodate them.

[0034] A fitting 19 can also be seen, which is connected to the underside 22. The fitting 19 is also designed to at least partially accommodate a spring bar 6, 7. A spring bar 6, 7 is therefore correspondingly enclosed on the one hand by the bulge 17, 18 and on the other hand by the fitting 19.

[0035] The Figure 3Bshows an alternative embodiment, wherein the underside 22 has a first elevation 25 and a second elevation 26, wherein the first elevation 25 has a third bulge 27 and the second elevation 26 has a fourth bulge 28, which can each be in operative contact with or connected to a spring rod 6, 7.

[0036] The elevations 25, 26 are correspondingly wave-shaped or hill-and-valley-shaped. It is also conceivable that fittings 19 are provided.

[0037] All features disclosed in the application documents are claimed as essential to the invention, provided that they are new, individually or in combination, compared to the prior art. List of reference symbols

[0038] 1Vehicle seat 2Spring device 3Upper part 4Lower part 5Pivot axis 6First spring bar 7Second spring bar 8First lower part 9Second lower part 10First end of the first spring bar 11Second end of the first spring bar 12First end of the second spring bar 13Second end of the second spring bar 14Common plane 15Normal operating state 16Deflected operating state 17First bulge 18Second bulge 19Fitting 20First lower section 21Second lower section 22Underside 23First pivot section 24Second pivot section 25First elevation 26Second elevation 27Third bulge 28Fourth bulge LVehicle seat longitudinal direction VBehicle seat width direction HVehicle seat height direction

Claims

1. Vehicle seat (1) with a spring device (2) for cushioning tilting movements of an upper part (3) of the vehicle seat (1) relative to a lower part (4) of the vehicle seat (1) about a tilt axis (5) arranged in a vehicle seat longitudinal direction (L) or vehicle seat width direction (B), characterised in that, the spring device (2) comprises a first spring rod (6) which is elastically deformable in the transverse direction and a second spring rod (7) which is elastically deformable in the transverse direction, wherein the transverse direction corresponds to the radial direction of the respective spring rod, wherein the upper part (3) has a first lower portion (8) and a second lower portion (9), wherein the first lower portion (8) is at least operatively connected to the first spring rod (6) and the second lower portion (9) is at least operatively connected to the second spring rod (7), in order to deform the first spring rod (6) or the second spring rod (7) when the upper part (3) is tilted, wherein the first spring rod (6), the second spring rod (7) and the tilt axis (5) are arranged in a common plane (14), wherein the plane (14) in a normal operating state (15) of the vehicle seat (1) is parallel to a basic plane formed from the longitudinal direction (L) of the vehicle seat and a vehicle seat width direction (B).

2. Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first spring rod (6) has a first end (10) and a second (11) end and the second spring rod (7) has a first end (12) and a second (13) end, wherein the first spring rod (6) and the second spring rod (7) are connected to the lower part (4) by means of the respective first end (10, 12) and the respective second end (11, 13).

3. Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first spring rod (6) and the second spring rod (7) are arranged to run in the longitudinal direction (L) or width direction (B) of the vehicle seat.

4. Vehicle seat (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the upper part (3) has a first bulge (17) and a second bulge (18), wherein the first bulge (17) is in operative contact with the first spring rod (6) and the second bulge (18) is in operative contact with the second spring rod (7).