ADJUSTMENT ARRANGEMENT FOR ADJUSTING AT LEAST ONE SEAT CONTOUR AREA OF A VEHICLE SEAT FOR A VEHICLE, VEHICLE SEAT WITH THE ADJUSTMENT ARRANGEMENT AND VEHICLE WITH THE VEHICLE SEAT

Description

Technical area:

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a storage arrangement for adjusting at least one seat contour area of the vehicle seat. The invention also relates to a vehicle with the vehicle seat. Background:

[0002] To adjust the width of a seat or backrest area of a vehicle seat, it is known to provide an expandable bladder that can be filled with compressed air and is located in a side bolster of a seat or backrest area. Publications have also been disclosed that describe the arrangement of two air bladders.

[0003] For example, US 2018 / 0339626 A1 describes a vehicle seat with two air chambers arranged in a side bolster of the vehicle seat to support the occupant's posture on the vehicle seat. The two air chambers have different volumes and can be controlled independently via valves. One chamber is used to adjust the side bolster, and the other is used to dynamically adjust the side bolster.

[0004] The generic US 4 796 955 A is also known from the prior art. Description:

[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing a vehicle seat with a cost-effective adjustment arrangement for effectively adjusting a seat contour area of the vehicle seat, which has a high adjustment speed with a sufficient adjustment range. This object is achieved by a vehicle seat with the adjustment arrangement having the features of claim 1. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the following description, and / or the accompanying figures.

[0006] An adjustment arrangement is proposed which is designed for adjusting at least one seat contour region of a vehicle seat for a vehicle. For example, the seat contour region is designed as a side bolster of a backrest of the vehicle seat or a seat cushion of the vehicle seat. Alternatively, the seat contour region can be designed as another adjustable region of the vehicle seat, e.g., regions of a headrest or footrest of the vehicle seat.

[0007] The vehicle is, for example, a passenger car or a commercial vehicle, in particular a light commercial vehicle. Preferably, the seat contour area can be widened or narrowed and / or its position can be changed by means of the adjustment arrangement. The vehicle seat can be designed as a seat in a front row of seats, in particular a driver's seat or passenger seat, or as a seat in a rear row of seats of the vehicle.

[0008] The adjustment arrangement comprises a first chamber and a second chamber. Preferably, the two chambers have an elastic outer skin. Both chambers can be filled with compressed air. In particular, the chambers' volumes can be adjusted depending on the degree of compressed air filling.

[0009] The adjustment arrangement has a pneumatic device which is designed to generate and introduce the compressed air into the first chamber and into the second chamber.

[0010] The adjustment arrangement comprises a support device. The support device is designed to support the two chambers against each other during and / or during filling with compressed air and / or in a state when completely filled with compressed air.

[0011] The support device can ensure that an adjustment path, in particular a stroke, of the two chambers, when they are being filled and / or are fully filled, can be fully utilized to adjust the seat contour area. This advantageously increases the adjustment speed with which the seat contour area can be adjusted. In particular, it can enable the seat contour area to be adjusted in real time to vehicle conditions caused, for example, by unevenness, inclines or declines in the road surface, by steering movements of the vehicle, and / or by centrifugal forces.

[0012] In one possible embodiment of the invention, the first chamber is arranged and / or designed to be fluidically independent of the second chamber. In particular, the two chambers are not part of a multi-chamber system. Preferably, the two chambers are arranged adjacent to one another. In particular, the two chambers contact one another and press against one another when they are filled with compressed air and / or are completely filled with it. The support device is preferably arranged between the first chamber and the second chamber. In particular, the support device forms a first contact surface for the first chamber on one side and a second contact surface for the second chamber on the opposite side. In particular, the first chamber presses against the first contact surface and the second chamber presses against the second contact surface when they are filled with compressed air and / or are completely filled with it.

[0013] This has the advantage that the two chambers do not press directly against each other, but rather are supported by the support device arranged between them. The compression of one chamber by the other during and / or during filling with compressed air and / or in the fully filled state, and the resulting reduction in the maximum achievable adjustment range, can be advantageously reduced or even completely avoided. The support device allows for a sufficient adjustment range or even the maximum achievable adjustment range to be utilized, which in particular enables an increased reaction speed and / or an increased adjustment speed of the seat contour area.

[0014] In one possible structural implementation of the invention, the support device is attached to the first chamber. Alternatively, the support device can be attached to the second chamber. For example, the support device is integrally connected to one of the two chambers, for example, by welding.

[0015] In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the support device is designed as a strip, in particular as a thin strip with a thickness of up to 2 millimeters at most, preferably up to 1.5 millimeters at most, in particular up to 1 millimeter at most and / or at least 0.5 millimeters. The support device can be made of a plastic, a fabric, a metal, or another suitable material. The support device can be manufactured cost-effectively, particularly in this implementation. It is advantageous that the support device causes only a very slight additional weight in the adjustment arrangement and requires only a small amount of installation space.

[0016] One possible embodiment of the invention provides that the first chamber is designed to statically adjust the seat contour area. For example, the first chamber inflates during and / or during filling with compressed air, thus widening the seat contour area. When the compressed air is released from the first chamber, the seat contour area narrows again. If the seat contour area is designed as the side bolster of the backrest of the vehicle seat, a width of a leaning surface of the backrest is preferably reduced by widening the side bolster. If the seat contour area is designed as the side bolster of the seat cushion of the vehicle seat, in particular a width of a sitting surface of the seat cushion is reduced by widening the side bolster. This allows the leaning surface or the sitting surface to be adapted to the body measurements of the occupant.The adjustment can be maintained over a longer period of time and / or depending on the driving conditions of the vehicle.

[0017] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the second chamber is designed to dynamically adjust the seat contour area. Preferably, the second chamber is provided to increase the adjustment speed at which the seat contour area is adjusted.

[0018] The advantage is that adjusting the seat contour area ensures comfortable and body-adapted sitting and / or leaning for the occupant sitting in the vehicle seat. In particular, under certain driving conditions of the vehicle, for example when cornering at high speeds and / or in sharp bends, the option of increasing the adjustment speed is particularly advantageous, as the seat contour area can be adjusted in real time with the driving conditions. Preferably, when subjected to driving-related forces, e.g. centrifugal forces, the occupant can be supported laterally on the back and / or buttocks by the widened and adjusted seat contour area. In particular, this can ensure that the occupant maintains a secure, tip-free posture in the vehicle seat.

[0019] A possible design implementation of the invention provides for the second chamber to have a smaller volume than the first chamber. This allows the second chamber to be completely filled with compressed air more quickly than the first chamber. The first chamber can thus assume its function of static adjustment of the seat contour area, while the second chamber can assume its function of dynamic adjustment, in particular, increasing the adjustment speed.

[0020] Especially when the first large-volume chamber and the small-volume second chamber are filled with the same amount of compressed air, the air pressure in the second chamber is higher than the air pressure in the first chamber. Thus, without the intermediate support device, the second chamber would compress the first chamber and reduce the adjustment range. For this very reason, the arrangement of the support device between the two chambers is particularly advantageous, as it can significantly reduce or even prevent the compression of the first chamber and the resulting reduction in the adjustment range.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pneumatic device comprises a pump device and a valve device. The pump device is preferably designed to generate the compressed air, in particular by sucking in and compressing ambient air. The valve device is preferably designed to introduce the compressed air into the first chamber and into the second chamber. For this purpose, the valve device can have one or more valves. In particular, the valve device can be controlled to introduce the compressed air independently of one another into the first chamber and into the second chamber. For example, the pneumatic device comprises one or more hoses for fluidically connecting the valve(s) to the chambers. In the event that the introduction of compressed air can be controlled separately for each chamber, each chamber is preferably connected to the valve device by its own valve with an attached hose.

[0022] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the adjustment arrangement comprises a control device. The control device is preferably designed to control the valve device, in particular the opening of the valve(s), to introduce compressed air into both chambers. Correspondingly, the control device is designed to control the valve device to release compressed air from both chambers. Within the scope of the invention, it is possible for the control device to be activated by the occupant using an actuating device of the vehicle seat or the vehicle. Thus, the occupant can independently adjust the seat contour area by actuating the actuating device.

[0023] Within the scope of the invention, it can also be provided that the control device is designed to control the valve device based on control data generated, for example, by the driving conditions of the vehicle, in particular by the unevenness, inclines, or declines on the road surface and / or by the steering movements and / or centrifugal forces. For this purpose, the adjustment arrangement preferably has an evaluation device designed to acquire and evaluate the control data.

[0024] A vehicle seat with the adjustment arrangement according to the previous description and / or according to one of claims 1 to 10 forms a further subject matter of the invention. Preferably, the vehicle seat is designed as previously described. The adjustment arrangement is designed to adjust the seat contour region of the vehicle seat, in particular to widen or narrow it. Preferably, the vehicle seat has the backrest and the seat cushion, wherein the occupant can lean against the backrest and sit on the seat cushion. In particular, the seat contour region is designed as the side bolster of the backrest or the seat cushion. Optionally, the side bolster is formed by the seat shell structure of the vehicle seat, wherein the seat shell structure can be covered at least in sections with padding.

[0025] Within the scope of the invention, it is possible for the backrest to have two side bolsters and / or for the seat cushion to have two side bolsters. Preferably, the adjustment arrangement comprises more than two chambers, in particular four or eight chambers, with two chambers each being assigned to the side bolsters of the backrest and / or with two chambers each being assigned to the side bolsters of the seat cushion. A separate pump device and / or valve device can be provided for each two of the chambers. However, it is preferred, particularly for reasons of weight, space, and cost, for all chambers to be connected to the same pump device and / or valve device and supplied with compressed air.

[0026] In one possible implementation of the invention, the respective two chambers of the side bolsters of the backrest or the respective two chambers of the seat cushion can be controlled independently of one another. In particular, the two chambers of only one side bolster on the backrest and / or on the seat cushion can be filled with compressed air, wherein the chambers in the other side bolster remain at their original filling level. In particular, this makes it possible to achieve asymmetrical and / or differently wide side bolsters on the backrest and / or on the seat cushion depending on the driving conditions. For example, when driving in a left-hand bend, only the right side bolster of the backrest and / or the seat cushion is raised to support the occupant, wherein the associated left side bolster does not change in terms of filling level. This principle preferably works in reverse in a right-hand bend.Alternatively, it is possible within the scope of the invention that both side bolsters of the backrest and / or the seat cushion are widened in the same way, in particular that the chambers of both side bolsters are filled with compressed air in the same way and / or quantity, regardless of the curve direction.

[0027] According to the invention, the seat contour region has a flap mechanism with at least one flap and a hinge device for the flap. The flap mechanism is preferably arranged in the seat contour region, in particular integrated between the seat shell structure and the upholstery. The two chambers are preferably arranged in the region of the flap mechanism adjacent to the at least one flap. According to the invention, the chambers form actuators by which the at least one flap can be pivoted and / or folded about the hinge device. According to the invention, the flap mechanism can be activated by filling the first and second chambers with compressed air in order to widen or narrow the seat contour region.

[0028] For example, during and / or during the introduction of compressed air into the chambers, the at least one flap folds around the hinge device and presses against the upholstery and / or the seat shell structure, thereby effecting the adjustment, in particular the widening of the seat contour area. By discharging the compressed air from the chambers, the opposite adjustment, in particular the narrowing of the seat contour area, can preferably be effected. The flap mechanism, in particular the at least one flap and / or the hinge device, can optionally form a component of the seat contour area.

[0029] In another possible embodiment of the invention, the support device is fixed in the seat contour area. In this case, the support device is not arranged on one of the chambers. According to the invention, the support device is attached to the flap mechanism, in particular to the hinge device. Optionally, a positive connection can be provided between the support device and the hinge device.

[0030] A vehicle with the vehicle seat according to the previous description and / or according to one of claims 11 to 14 forms a further subject of the invention. The vehicle has a steering device for steering the vehicle by means of steering movements. While driving, the vehicle has certain vehicle positions, which can be caused, for example, by the steering movements and / or by unevenness, inclines, or declines in the road surface. The evaluation device is designed to detect the driving conditions as control data, evaluate them, and transmit them to the control device.

[0031] Further features, advantages, and effects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention. These show: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an adjustment arrangement for adjusting a seat contour area of a vehicle seat for a vehicle; Figure 2 shows a chamber of the adjustment arrangement that can be filled with compressed air and on which a support device of the adjustment arrangement is arranged; Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of two chambers of the adjustment arrangement, wherein the chambers are filled with compressed air, are supported on the support device, and can adjust the seat contour area along an adjustment path.

[0032] Corresponding or identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0033] In the Figure 1A schematic representation of an adjustment arrangement 1 for adjusting at least one seat contour region of a vehicle seat for a vehicle, in particular for adjusting two seat contour regions, is shown. The vehicle is designed, for example, as a passenger car or as a commercial vehicle. The vehicle seat can be designed as a seat in a front row of seats or as a seat in a rear row of seats of the vehicle.

[0034] The vehicle seat has a backrest with a leaning surface and a seat cushion with a seat surface. Two seat contour regions are arranged on the backrest and a further two seat contour regions are arranged on the seat cushion, each of which is arranged on either side of the leaning surface and the seat surface. By means of the adjustment arrangement 1, the seat contour regions of the backrest or the seat cushion can be adjusted; in particular, they can be widened or narrowed in order to adapt the width of the leaning surface or the seat surface to the body measurements of an occupant on the vehicle seat and / or to driving conditions of the vehicle, for example, to uneven surfaces, uphill or downhill gradients, or to steering movements of the vehicle. The seat contour regions are formed by a seat shell structure, wherein the seat shell structure can be covered at least in sections by upholstery.If the seat contour areas of the backrest and the seat cushion are to be adjusted, two adjustment arrangements 1 on the vehicle seat are preferred.

[0035] The adjustment assembly 1 comprises a pneumatic device 2 with a pump device 3 and a valve device 4. The pump device 3 is designed to suck in ambient air, compress it, and provide it as compressed air. The valve device 4 has several, e.g., four, valves 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d. The compressed air can escape through the valves 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d when they are open.

[0036] The adjustment assembly 1 has several, e.g., four, chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d that can be filled with compressed air. The chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d have an elastic outer skin. When filled with compressed air, the chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d can expand, in particular, their volume can increase. The chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are fluidically independent of one another; in particular, they are not part of a multi-chamber system.

[0037] The pneumatic device 2 has several, for example four, hoses 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d. Each of the chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d is connected to one of the valves 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d via a hose 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, so that each of the chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d can be filled with compressed air independently of the others.

[0038] The vehicle seat has a first and second flap mechanism 8a, 8b in each of the seat contour areas, each with at least one flap 9a, 9b that can pivot and / or fold about a hinge device 10a, 10b. A first chamber 6a and a second chamber 6b are arranged adjacent to each other in the area of the first flap mechanism 6a.

[0039] A first support device 13a is arranged between the first chamber 6a and the second chamber 6b, which is designed to mutually support the two chambers 6a, 6b during and / or during filling with compressed air and / or in the fully filled state of the two chambers 6a, 6b. The support devices 13a, 13b are designed as thin strips, e.g. made of a plastic, metal or fabric, with a thickness of up to a maximum of 2 millimeters, preferably up to a maximum of 1.5 millimeters, in particular up to a maximum of 1 millimeter and / or at least 0.5 millimeters. The support devices 13a, 13b can thus be produced cost-effectively, are lightweight and are integrated into the adjustment arrangement 1 in a space-saving manner.

[0040] A third chamber 6c and a fourth chamber 6d are arranged adjacent to each other in the region of the second flap mechanism 6b. A second support device 13b is arranged between the third chamber 6c and the fourth chamber 6d, which is designed to mutually support the two chambers 6c, 6d during and / or during filling with compressed air and / or in the fully filled state of the two chambers 6c, 6d.

[0041] In the Figure 2It is shown that the first support device 13a is arranged on the first chamber 6a. Alternatively, the first support device 13a can be arranged on the second chamber 6b. The second support device 13b is arranged in a corresponding manner on one of the two chambers 6c, 6d. The support devices 13a, 13b can be integrally connected to the respective chamber 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, for example, by welding thereto. This can be implemented cost-effectively. Alternatively, the support devices 13a, 13b can be integrated into the respective flap mechanism 6a, 6b, e.g., by being positively connected to the respective hinge device 10a, 10b.

[0042] By filling the respective chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d with compressed air, they expand and press against the corresponding flaps 9a, 9b, causing them to pivot and / or fold, thus adjusting the seat contour areas. The filled chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are, in particular, actuators for operating the flaps 9a, 9b.

[0043] The adjustment arrangement 1 comprises a control device 11 and an evaluation device 12. The evaluation device 12 is designed to acquire control data based on the driving conditions of the vehicle, evaluate it, and transmit it to the control device 11. The control device 11 is designed to control the pneumatic device 2 based on the control data to fill the chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d with compressed air or to release the compressed air from them. For this purpose, the valves 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d can be controlled individually so that the chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d can be filled with compressed air independently of one another. In particular, the seat contour areas of the vehicle seat can be adjusted as needed for unevenness, inclines or declines in the road surface or when the vehicle is cornering in order to ensure an upright and tilt-free posture of the occupant in the vehicle seat.The vehicle or the vehicle seat can also have an actuating device for the occupant, by means of which the occupant can actuate the locking device 1 for individual, comfortable adjustment of the seat contour areas.

[0044] The first chamber 6a has a larger volume than the second chamber 6b, and the third chamber 6c has a larger volume than the fourth chamber 6d. Thus, the second chamber 6b and the fourth chamber 6d, as small-volume chambers 6b, 6d, can be filled more quickly to a fully filled state 15 ( Fig. 3) than the other two large-volume chambers 6a, 6c. For this reason, the small-volume chambers 6b, 6d are arranged and / or designed to dynamically adjust the seat contour regions, in particular to specify an adjustment speed at which the seat contour regions are adjusted. The large-volume chambers 6a, 6c, on the other hand, are arranged and / or designed for static adjustment of the seat contour regions, in particular for a width expansion of the seat contour regions.

[0045] In the fully filled state 15 of the chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, a higher pressure p3 prevails in the small-volume chambers 6b, 6c than in the large-volume chambers 6a, 6c, in which a lower pressure p2 prevails ( Fig. 3 ).

[0046] In the case of adjacently arranged chambers between which no support device is provided, the chamber in which the higher pressure p3 prevails would support the other chamber with the lower pressure p2 during and / or during filling with compressed air and / or in the fully filled state 15 ( Fig. 3 ) slightly. This would shorten the possible total adjustment range or total stroke of the two chambers.

[0047] To compensate for or even completely prevent this disadvantage, the first support device 13a is arranged between the first chamber 6a and the second chamber 6b, and the second support device 13b is arranged between the third chamber 6c and the fourth chamber 6d. The depression of the chambers 6b, 6d with the lower pressure p2 by the other chambers 6a, 6c with the higher pressure p3 is reduced or prevented by the respective support devices 13a, 13b.

[0048] This effect is in the Figure 3 exemplified using the first chamber 6a and the second chamber 6b with the first support device 13a arranged therebetween. The two chambers 6a, 6b are shown in an unfilled or almost unfilled state 14 and in a state fully filled with compressed air 15.

[0049] The chambers 6a, 6b press against two opposing contact surfaces of the first support device 13a during and / or in the fully filled state 15. This results in the acting pressure force being distributed evenly across the contact surfaces. As a result, the first chamber 6a, in which the pressure p2 is lower than in the second chamber 6b, is pressed in significantly less or not at all. The thus achievable adjustment travel s or total stroke is made up of an adjustment travel component s1 of the first chamber 6a and an adjustment travel component 2 of the second chamber 6b, with no or largely no loss. Together with the increased adjustment speed achieved by the different volumes of the chambers 6a, 6b, the seat contour area can be adjusted in real time in response to the driving conditions. List of reference symbols:

[0050] 1 Adjustment arrangement 2 Pneumatic device 3 Pump device 4 Valve device 5a, b, c, d Valves 6a, b, c, d Chambers 7a, b, c, d Hoses 8a, b Flap mechanisms 9a, b Flaps 10a, b Hinge devices 11 Control device 12 Evaluation device 13a, b Support devices 14 Unfilled state 15 Fully filled state s1 Adjustment travel portion of the first chamber s2 Adjustment travel portion of the second chamber s Total adjustment travel / stroke

Claims

1. A vehicle seat with an adjustment assembly (1), wherein the adjustment assembly (1) comprises a first chamber (6a) and at least one second chamber (6b, 6c, 6d), wherein the two chambers (6a, 6b) can be filled with compressed air, wherein the adjustment assembly (1) has a pneumatic device (2) for generating and introducing the compressed air into the first chamber (6a) and the second chamber (6b), wherein the adjustment assembly (1) comprises at least one support device (13a, 13b), wherein the support device (13a) is designed to support the two chambers (6a, 6b) against each other during and / or during filling with compressed air and / or in a fully filled state (15), wherein the adjustment assembly (1) is designed and / or arranged to adjust a seat contour region of the vehicle seat is, characterized in that the seat contour area has a flap mechanism (8a) with a hinge device (10a), wherein the flap mechanism (8a) can be activated by filling the first and / or second chamber (6a, 6b) with compressed air and can be folded about the hinge device (10a) to adjust the seat contour area, wherein the support device (13a) is fixed to the flap mechanism (8a), and that the first chamber (6a) is designed and / or arranged for static adjustment of the seat contour area and / or that the second (6b) chamber is designed and / or arranged for dynamic adjustment of the seat contour area.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the first chamber (6a) is fluidically independent of the second chamber (6b) and / or is arranged adjacent to the second chamber (6b), wherein the support device (13a) is arranged between the first chamber (6a) and the second chamber (6b).

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support device (13a) is arranged on the first chamber (6a) or on the second chamber (6b).

4. The vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support device (13a) is a strip made of a plastic, a fabric, or a metal.

5. The vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second chamber (6b) has a larger volume than the first chamber (6a).

6. The vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second chamber (6b) can be completely filled more quickly than the first chamber (6a).

7. A vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air pressure in the second chamber (6b) filled with compressed air is higher than the air pressure in the first chamber (6a) filled with compressed air.

8. A vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pneumatic device (2) comprises a pump device (3) for generating the compressed air and a valve device (4) for introducing the compressed air into the first chamber (6a) and the second chamber (6b), wherein the introduction of the compressed air into the first chamber (6a) can be controlled independently of the introduction of the compressed air into the second chamber (6b).

9. A vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an evaluation device (12) for acquiring and evaluating control data and / or by a control device (11) for controlling the valve device (4) based on the control data.

10. The vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle seat has a seat cushion and a backrest, wherein the seat contour region is at least one side bolster of the seat cushion or the backrest.

11. The vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat contour region has a flap mechanism (8a) with a hinge device (10a), wherein the flap mechanism (8a) can be activated by filling the first and / or second chamber (6a, 6b) with compressed air and can be folded about the hinge device (10a) to adjust the seat contour region, wherein the support device (13a) is fixed to the flap mechanism (8a).

12. The vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support device (13a) is attached to the hinge device (10a).

13. Vehicle with the vehicle seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle has driving states when driving, wherein the evaluation device (12) is designed to detect and evaluate the driving states as the control data and to transmit these to the control device (11).