Seat with vibration devices
By strategically placing vibration devices within authorized spaces in vehicle seats, the discomfort and health risks associated with harmful vibrations are mitigated, enhancing both safety and comfort for occupants.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2020000031
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2020-01-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-11
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-01-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle seats with integrated vibration devices can cause discomfort or even harm to occupants due to improper placement of these devices, which can transmit harmful vibrations to sensitive areas of the body.
The vibration devices are strategically arranged within specific authorized spaces in the vehicle seat, defined by precise coordinate boundaries, to minimize discomfort and avoid harmful exposure to sensitive areas such as the lungs and genitals.
This arrangement ensures that vibrations do not adversely affect the occupant's health, providing a safer and more comfortable seating experience by avoiding placement in prohibited spaces that correspond to sensitive body regions.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Seat with vibration devices
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat with an upper face, and a backrest with a front face, the upper face and the front face being intended to be in contact with an occupant seated on the seat, this seat further comprising at least one vibration device.
[0002] Vehicle seats are known in which vibration devices are integrated which are integrated into a seat in order to transmit vibrations to the occupant seated on the seat. These vibrations are generated by the vibrator of the vibration device. The transmission of these vibrations to the occupant can have various objectives, for example the comfort of the occupant or a warning to the occupant to prevent a danger external to the vehicle.
[0003] Depending on the position of the vibration devices in the seat, the vibrations generated by them can cause discomfort for the occupant, or even be harmful to health for certain vibration frequencies. Description of the invention
[0004] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.
[0005] The invention aims to provide a vehicle seat in which the vibration device(s) are arranged so as to generate minimal discomfort for the occupant, or even no discomfort at all.
[0006] This aim is achieved by the fact that the vibration device(s) are arranged in one or more of the following permitted spaces: - a first authorized space (EA1) in the file which is defined by the following ranges: Y 1min < IYI < YImax with Y 1min = 0 mm and YImax = 150 mm, Zlmin < Z < Zlmax with Zlmin = 40 mm and Zlmax = infinity, IXI > IXDI + L1 with L1 = 25 mm, where XD is the x coordinate of point D of the front face 31 of the backrest 30 with Y and Z coordinates; - a second authorized space (EA2) in the seat which is defined by the following ranges: X > X2min with X2min =100 mm, IZI > IZAI + L2 with L2 = 25 mm, where ZA is the coordinate along z of point A of the upper face of the base with coordinates X and Y; the values X, Y and Z being the coordinates of a point P of the authorized space, these coordinates being defined in relation to an orthonormal reference frame (H, x, y, z) whose origin is point H which is the reference point of the seat, whose x axis extends horizontally from the back to the front of the seat, whose y axis extends horizontally from the right to left of the seat, and therefore the z axis extends vertically from the bottom to the top of the backrest.
[0007] Thanks to these provisions, the vibrations of the vibration device(s) do not adversely affect the health of the occupant. In particular, the vibration devices are not a priori placed near organs weakened by vibrations, in particular the lungs and genital organs.
[0008] Advantageously, none of the vibration devices is arranged in one of the following prohibited spaces: - a first forbidden space (EU) in the file which is defined by the following ranges: IYI < Y1 Imax with Y1 Imax = 30 mm, Z>0 - a second prohibited space (EI2) in the seat and backrest which is defined by the following areas: X12min < X < X12max with X12min = -100 mm and X12max = 140 mm, Z < Z12max with Z12max = 40 mm, - a third prohibited space (EI3) in the seat and backrest which is defined by the following areas: X < X13max with X13max =165 mm, IYI < Y 13max with Y 13max = 40 mm, Z < Z13max with Z13max = 40 mm.
[0009] Thus, the most fragile areas of the body, which correspond to the torso where the lungs and heart are located, and to the center of the body, are exposed as little as possible to vibrations, resulting in an absence of discomfort and harmful effects on the health of the occupant seated on the seat.
[0010] Advantageously, we have Y 1min = 30 mm, ZImax = 200 mm, and X2min =165 mm.
[0011] Thus, the authorized zones are less extensive, which reduces independent vibrations. suitable for areas of the body that need to be protected from vibrations.
[0012] Advantageously, the authorized spaces of the seat further comprise a third authorized space which is made up of the armrests, the side parts of the backrest intended to support the shoulders of an occupant of the seat, and the footrests of the seat.
[0013] Thus, the vibrations of the vibration devices can be felt by other areas of the body, which can be beneficial to the occupant.
[0014] The invention will be better understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, of embodiments shown as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the appended drawings in which:
[0015] [fig. 1] [fig.l] is a perspective view of a seat according to the invention,
[0016] [fig.2] [fig.2] is a front view of the seat of [fig.l],
[0017] [fig.3] [fig.3] is a top view of the seat of [fig.l],
[0018] [fig.4] [fig.4] is a sectional view along plane IV-IV of [fig.3]. Detailed description of the invention
[0019] A vehicle seat 10 comprises a seat 20 and a backrest 30, as illustrated in [fig.l], which is a perspective view of a seat 10. The "front-back" direction is defined in the direction of the seat 20 relative to an occupant normally seated on the seat, this occupant then looking forward, the occupant's back then being directed rearward. The left and right of the seat are also defined relative to such an occupant, the left (respectively right) of the seat 10 being on the left (respectively right) side of the occupant. The "top-bottom" direction is defined in the direction of the backrest 30 such that the bottom is at the junction between the backrest 30 and the seat 20, and the top is the top of the backrest 30.
[0020] The seat 20 has an upper face 21, and the backrest 30 has a front face 31, the upper face 21 and the front face 31 being intended to be in contact with respectively the buttocks / legs and the back of an occupant seated on the seat 10.
[0021] An orthonormal reference frame (Hxyz) is defined relative to the seat 10 as follows: the origin H is the “reference point of the seat” 10, called “point H”, the x axis extends horizontally from the rear to the front of the seat 20, the y axis extends horizontally (transversely) from the right to the left of the seat, and the z axis extends vertically from the bottom to the top of the backrest 30.
[0022] The "seating reference point" is standardly defined throughout the automotive industry as the pivot point between the torso and legs (thighs) of a SAEJ-826 referenced dummy seated in the seat.
[0023] In the present description, the values X, Y and Z are the coordinates of a point M which are defined in the reference frame (Hxyz) and are expressed in millimeters (mm). These values can be negative or positive depending on the position of the point M.
[0024] The seat 10 comprises one or more vibration devices 50 which are integrated into the seat 20 and / or the backrest 30 of the seat 10.
[0025] The tests carried out by the inventors with occupants of various builds and sizes seated on a seat 10 show that when the vibration devices 50 are arranged in certain areas of the seat 10, called “authorized spaces” (EA), an occupant does not perceive any discomfort or inconvenience due to the vibrations generated by the vibration devices 50. The vibration devices 50 must therefore ideally be placed in these authorized spaces EA.
[0026] These tests also show that, on the contrary, when the vibration devices 50 are arranged in certain areas of the seat 10, called “prohibited spaces” (EI), an occupant perceives discomfort. In addition, the vibrations of the vibration devices 50 can be harmful to the health of the occupant because they cause the occupant's vital organs (heart, lungs, genitals, etc.) to resonate. Vibration devices 50 must therefore not be placed in these prohibited spaces El.
[0027] In the description below, the notation ITI means, in a standard way, absolute value of T, that is to say ITI = T if T> 0 and ITI = -T if T< 0. We now describe and quantify the authorized spaces EA.
[0028] A first authorized space EA1, which is in folder 30, is defined by the following ranges: Y 1min < IYI < YImax with Y 1min = 0 mm and YImax = 150 mm, Zlmin < Z < Zlmax with Zlmin = 40 mm and Zlmax = infinity, IXI > IXDI + L1 with L1 = 25 mm, where XD is the x coordinate of point D of the front face 31 of the backrest 30 with Y and Z coordinates.
[0029] In a restrictive variant, the authorized space EA1 is restricted with the values Y 1min = 30 mm and Zlmax = 200 mm. In this variant, on the one hand the central zone of the backrest 31, namely a strip around the z axis whose width is equal to {2«Y 1min] = 60 mm, is removed from the authorized space EA1. This central zone corresponds to the part of the backrest 31 where the occupant's spine rests. On the other hand the upper portion of the backrest 31, namely above Zlmax = 200 mm, is removed from the authorized space EA1. This upper portion corresponds to the part of the backrest where the occupant's lungs rest. [fig.2] is a front view of the seat 10 and shows the authorized space EA1 in the case of this restrictive variant. This authorized space EA1 is also visible in [fig.l] and in [fig.4].For example, four vibration devices 50 are arranged in the seat 10 (two in the backrest 30 and two in the seat 20) and are shown in these figures. The vibration devices 50 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane (x,z).
[0030] [Fig. 4] shows the relative position of a point P in the authorized space with coordinates X, Y, Z, and a point D with coordinates XD, Y, Z. Point D is the projection onto the front face 31 and along the x direction, of point P. Thus, the condition IXI > IXDI + L1 means that point P is located behind the backrest 30 at a distance from the front face 31 at least equal to LL. The points P that satisfy this condition are located in the gray area of the backrest 31 in [Fig. 4].
[0031] A second authorized space EA2, which is in the seat 20, is defined by the following ranges: X > X2min with X2min =100 mm, IZI > IZAI + L2 with L2 = 25 mm, where ZA is the coordinate along z of point A of the upper face 21 of the seat 20 with coordinates X and Y.
[0032] In a restrictive variant, the authorized space EA2 is restricted with the value X2min = 165 mm. In this variant, a portion located further back of the seat 21, namely between X2min = 100 mm and X2min = 165 mm, is removed from the permitted space EA2. This portion corresponds to the part of the seat 20 which is closer to the occupant's genitals. [Fig. 3] is a top view of the seat 10 and shows the permitted space EA2 in the case of this restrictive variant. This permitted space EA2 is also visible in [Fig. 1] and in [Fig. 4].
[0033] [Fig. 4] shows the relative position of a point P in the authorized space with coordinates X, Y, Z, and a point A with coordinates X, Y, ZA. Point A is the projection onto the upper face 21 and along the z direction of point P. Thus, the condition IZI > IZAI + L2 means that point P is located under the seat 20 at a distance from the upper face 21 at least equal to L2. The points P that satisfy this condition are located in the gray area of the seat 21 in [Fig. 4].
[0034] We now describe and quantify the forbidden spaces EL
[0035] A first EU forbidden space, which is in folder 30, is defined by the following ranges: IYl < Yl Imax with Y1 Imax = 30 mm, Z>0.
[0036] This prohibited space EU corresponds to a central zone of the backrest 30 which is a band around the z axis whose width is equal to {2«Y 1 Imax] = 60 mm. This central zone corresponds to the part of the backrest 30 where the occupant's spine rests. Indeed, it is preferable that the vibration devices 50 are not located in this zone. This prohibited space EU is visible in [fig.2].
[0037] A second prohibited space EI2, which is in the seat 20 and the backrest 30, is defined by the following areas: X12min < X < X12max with X12min = -100 mm and X12max = 140 mm, Z < Z12max with Z12max = 40 mm.
[0038] This prohibited space EI2 corresponds to an area of the seat 10 which extends over the entire width of the seat 10 on the one hand behind the point H over a distance of X12min and in front of the point H over a distance of X12max, and which extends on the other hand below a height Z12max. This area corresponds to the part of the seat 10 where the central part of the occupant's body rests. Indeed, it is preferable that the vibration devices 50 are not located in this area which includes the bones and central organs of the body. This prohibited space EI2 is visible in [fig.2] and in [fig-3].
[0039] A third prohibited space EI3, which is in the seat 20 and the backrest 30, is defined by the following areas: X < X13max with X13max =165 mm, IYl < Y 13max with Y 13max = 40 mm, Z < Z13max with Z13max = 40 mm.
[0040] This prohibited space EI3 corresponds to an area of the seat 10 which extends on the one hand over a strip around the axis x behind X13max and over a width equal to {2«Y 13max] = 80 mm, and which extends on the other hand below a height Z13max. This area corresponds to the part of the seat 10 where the genitals of the occupant rest. Indeed, it is preferable that the vibration devices 50 are not located in this area. This prohibited space EI3 is visible in [fig.2] and in [fig.3].
[0041] According to a variant of the invention, the authorized spaces of the seat 10 further comprise a third authorized space which is made up of the armrests, the lateral parts of the backrest 30 intended to support the shoulders of an occupant of the seat 10, and the footrests of the seat 10 if these footrests are present.
[0042] According to a variant of the invention, the vibration devices 50 are arranged exclusively in one or more of the authorized spaces EA defined above.
Claims
Claims
1. Vehicle seat (10) comprising a seat (20) with an upper face (21), and a backrest (30) with a front face (31), said upper face (21) and said front face (31) being intended to be in contact with an occupant seated on said seat (10), said seat (10) further comprising at least one vibration device (50), said seat (10) being characterized in that said at least one vibration device (50) is arranged in one or more of the following authorized spaces: - a first authorized space (EA1) in said folder (30) which is defined by the following ranges: Y 1min < IYI < YImax with Y 1min = 0 mm and YImax = 150 mm, Zlmin < Z < Zlmax with Zlmin = 40 mm and Zlmax = infinity, IXI > IXDI + L1 with L1 = 25 mm, where XD is the x coordinate of point D of said front face (31) of the backrest (30) with Y and Z coordinates; - a second authorized space (EA2) in said seat (20) which is defined by the following ranges: X > X2min with X2min =100 mm, IZI > IZAI + L2 with L2 = 25 mm, where ZA is the z coordinate of point A of said upper face (21) of the seat (20) with X and Y coordinates; - a third authorized space which is made up of the armrests, the side parts of the backrest (30) intended to support the shoulders of an occupant of the seat (10), and the footrests of the seat (10); the values X, Y and Z being the coordinates of a point P of the authorized space, these coordinates being defined in relation to an orthonormal reference frame (H, x, y, z) whose origin is point H which is the reference point of the seat (10), whose axis x extends horizontally from the back to the front of the seat (20), whose axis y extends horizontally from the right to the left of the seat, and therefore the axis z extends vertically from the bottom to the top of the backrest (30).
2. Vehicle seat (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that none of said at least one vibration device (50) is arranged in one of the following prohibited spaces: - a first prohibited space (EU) in said folder (30) which is defined by the following ranges: IYI < Y1 Imax with Y1 Imax = 30 mm, Z>0 - a second prohibited space (EI2) in said seat (20) and said backrest (30) which is defined by the following ranges: X12min < X < X12max with X12min = -100 mm and X12max = 140 mm, Z < Z12max with Z12max = 40 mm, - a third prohibited space (EI3) in said seat (20) and said backrest (30) which is defined by the following ranges: X < X13max with X13max =165 mm, IYI < Y 13max with Y 13max = 40 mm, Z < Z13max with Z13max = 40 mm.
3. Vehicle seat (10) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that Y 1min = 30 mm, Zlmax = 200 mm, and X2min =165 mm.
4. Vehicle seat (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said authorized spaces of the seat (10) comprise only the first authorized space (EA1) and the second authorized space (EA2).