Motor vehicle seat component
The motor vehicle seat component integrates a fan within a thermoplastic fiber cushioning structure using force-fit and form-fit connections, addressing the need for damping and space in existing fan installations, achieving reduced noise, components, and improved airflow.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FAURECIA AUTOSITZE
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-21
Smart Images
Figure EP2025082713_21052026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT COMPONENT
[0002] TECHNICAL AREA
[0003] The invention relates to a motor vehicle seat component with a fan.
[0004] STATE OF THE ART
[0005] Fans are typically used in vehicle seats to, for example, ventilate the upholstery. Therefore, the fans must be mounted close to the upholstery. They are usually installed on a support, and an additional damping element made of rubber or other damping materials is typically used to reduce the fan's vibrations, preventing them from being transmitted to the support and thus to the seat, which would cause disturbing noise.
[0006] Since fans are usually relatively large components, the necessary installation space must of course be created to accommodate a fan within a seating structure.
[0007] For example, US 10,632,881 B2 and JP 2017-140 264 A disclose how to embed a fan in foam material, where the foam material is part of a seat cushion. However, the fans themselves still need to be fixed to a solid base. Therefore, additional damping elements are still required to decouple vibrations between a support and the fan. FR 3139057 Al, DE 102015 106 306 Al and DE 202012 103 921 Ul show further examples of fans that can be connected to a cushioned structure.
[0008] THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle seat component in which the described disadvantages do not occur and in which a minimal number of components are required. This object is achieved by a motor vehicle seat component with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are found in the dependent claims.
[0010] According to the invention, a motor vehicle seat component is provided which has a cushioning structure comprising or consisting of a cushioning material which has a 3D structure of irregularly arranged, preferably thermoplastic, fibers fixed to one another, preferably by welding or fusing.
[0011] Such a material is suitable, for example, for the upholstery of a seat or backrest. The upholstery structure preferably comprises a three-dimensional structure of continuous or individual thermoplastic fibers, arranged irregularly, typically randomly, and forming loops. Fiber strands or sections are preferably welded or glued together to create a more or less stable structure. The fibers can be hollow and / or solid. Various materials are conceivable; for example, PET, PTT, PBT, or another thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof, can be used as the fiber material.
[0012] In addition to its exceptional sustainability, such a material also offers the advantage of significantly improved airflow compared to conventional foam materials. Furthermore, this material is flexible and possesses a degree of elasticity. The invention proposes connecting the fan to this upholstery structure. To this end, the vehicle seat component according to the invention comprises a fan with a housing that can be connected to the upholstery structure in various ways.
[0013] According to a first alternative, this connection is established by at least one projection attached to the housing and is preferably force-fit and / or form-fit. Preferably, the one or more projections are arranged on the housing in such a way that they can interlock with the material of the cushioning structure. By interlocking, the fan can be fixed to or within the cushioning structure. According to a second alternative, which can be used as an alternative or supplement to the first alternative, the cushioning structure is connected to the fan by a material-bonded connection between a section of the cushioning structure surrounding the housing and an edge arranged on the housing. The connection can be made, for example, by welding, such as ultrasonic welding or hot plate welding, or by bonding. Other material-bonded connection methods are also conceivable in principle.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the upholstery structure has a recess into which the fan is inserted. This integration of the fan into the upholstery structure saves additional installation space. Furthermore, this method creates a particularly stable connection between the fan and the upholstery structure, as it establishes not only frictional or material-fit connections, but also form-fit connections.
[0015] To further simplify integration, the housing can be designed with a round, preferably circular, base. This allows the recess in the padding structure to also have a matching round or circular shape. This allows the housing to be integrated in various rotational positions, and this geometry also enables the fan to be fixed to the padding structure by rotating or screwing it. In alternative i), for example, this is achieved by rotating the fan relative to the padding structure. The protrusions on the housing then engage with and interlock in the surrounding material of the padding structure.
[0016] Preferably, in the first alternative, the at least one projection or multiple projections extend radially and / or tangentially outwards from the housing in the manner of a wing and each have a free end. It is preferably provided that the projection or projections are flexible, preferably spring-elastic. This allows them to be pressed towards the housing with their free end under preload.
[0017] In the fixing process described above, the illustrated blades can first be inserted into a recess in the padding structure, lying close to the housing, along with the fan. A rotation of the fan then causes these projections to dig into the material of the padding structure adjacent in the radial direction. Preferably, the free end of the projection(s) engages in the padding structure.
[0018] In this way, a force-fit and form-fit fixation is achieved by turning. To prevent such a fixation from unintentionally loosening, a particularly advantageous embodiment can additionally provide that at least one projection has at least one notch or incision. The fiber structure of the upholstery material can then become entangled in such notches or incisions, which thus act as barbs. This makes it more difficult to remove a projection from the upholstery structure.
[0019] To facilitate fixing by twisting, it can also be provided that at least one projection tapers towards its free end, preferably to a point. This makes it easier to insert the projection into the cushion structure, especially at the beginning of the fixing process.
[0020] In the second alternative of the vehicle seat component according to the invention, the edge can be designed as a collar surrounding the housing. This collar preferably rests on the section of the cushioning structure. This contact allows the fan to first be positioned against the cushioning structure and then, in this position, to be bonded to the cushioning structure in a material-fit manner, for example by welding or gluing, by welding or gluing the edge to the section of the cushioning structure.
[0021] The motor vehicle seat component shown above is suitable for use in a motor vehicle seat. A motor vehicle seat equipped with the motor vehicle seat component shown above is also part of the present invention.
[0022] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a motor vehicle seat component, preferably a motor vehicle seat component according to the first alternative. This method involves the following steps:
[0023] a) Providing a cushioning structure comprising or consisting of a cushioning material having a 3D structure of irregularly arranged, preferably thermoplastic, fibers fixed to one another, preferably by welding or fusing,
[0024] b) Providing a fan with a housing which has at least one projection attached to the housing,
[0025] c) Force-fit and / or form-fit connection of the fan to the padding structure. According to the invention, the connection according to step c) is achieved by inserting the fan into a recess of the padding structure in an insertion direction and, after insertion, rotating it about an axis of rotation. This causes at least one projection to penetrate the padding structure.
[0026] Preferably, the projection(s) are pressed against the housing, preferably with their end(s), to create a preload before insertion. In this way, the fan can be manually anchored in the padding material by, for example, pressing the existing projections against the fan housing with the thumb and forefinger and inserting the fan into the padding material in this state. After insertion and before rotating the fan, the projection(s) can then be pressed against a wall of the recess due to its preload. During manual insertion, this occurs when the projections are released and thus, due to their preload, are automatically pressed against the inner wall of the recess into which the fan is inserted.The fan can now be rotated manually, causing the projections, which are under preload and press against the inside of the recess, to penetrate the padding material and become entangled there. Preferably, the projections are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the housing's circumference.
[0027] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 1-4.
[0029] Figure 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a fan according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a top view of a second embodiment of a fan according to the invention, Figure 3 shows a sectional view through a motor vehicle seat component according to the invention according to the first alternative,
[0030] Figure 4 shows a sectional view through a motor vehicle seat component according to the second alternative. BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION
[0031] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a fan 2 according to the invention in a top view in the XY plane. The impeller 7, which rotates about a rotary bearing 5, is housed in a casing 4, which in the example shown has a round, preferably circular, base or a corresponding cross-section on its outer surface. The advantage of this embodiment is that it can be easily rotated in a recess. Wing-like projections 3, which have free ends 3a, adjoin the casing 4 radially and / or tangentially on the outside. These can preferably be arranged diametrically opposite each other. The wing-like projections 3 are preferably made of plastic, like the casing 4 itself, and exhibit a certain degree of flexibility; in particular, they can be pressed against the casing 4, preferably with their ends 3a, creating a preload, see arrow PI.Further details of this embodiment are explained in more detail in connection with Figure 3. P2 then shows the direction of rotation in which the fan 2 is rotated in the cushioning material; the rotation preferably takes place with the tips 3a leading.
[0032] An alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 2, where the housing 4 does not have wing-like projections but is formed with a circumferential, collar-like projection 4a. For further details, please refer to the above descriptions. This embodiment is explained in more detail below with reference to Figure 4. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a motor vehicle seat component 1 according to the invention in the YZ plane. This component comprises a cushion structure 6, which—as described above—is formed with thermoplastic fibers 6a that more or less randomly form a three-dimensional structure. In this way, the material can be compressed in the vertical direction Z; it therefore exhibits a certain flexibility, which depends, among other things, on the size of the loops of fibers 6a formed in the cushion structure 6. According to the invention, a recess 6c is provided in the cushion structure 6, which serves to accommodate the fan 2.E denotes the insertion direction in which the fan 2 is inserted into the cushion structure 6. Preferably, the recess 6c has a geometry that approximately corresponds to the geometry of the fan 2. For example, the recess can also be round or circular in cross-section.
[0033] When the fan 2 is inserted into the recess 6c in the direction of E, preferably by compressing the wing-like projections 3a as described above with reference to Figure 1, a preload builds up in these projections. Once the fan 2 is in the recess 6c, the projections 3 are released, so that they press against the inner wall of the recess 6c due to their preload. In this state, the fan 2 (or its housing 4) can be rotated in the recess 6c about an axis of rotation A in the direction of arrow P2; preferably, the axis of rotation A is a vertical axis parallel to direction Z. Due to the preload, the projections 3 penetrate into the side walls of the recess 6c and thus into the material 6a of the cushioning structure 6.Preferably, the wing-like projections 3 are tapered or converge to a point at least in the region of their ends 3a, so that they can more easily penetrate the three-dimensional structure of the fibers 6a of the padding structure 6. Preferably, notches or recesses 3b are found in the region of the wing-like projections 3. These serve to further interlock the projections 3 in the loops and turns of the padding material 6. This prevents the projections 3 from unintentionally detaching from the padding material 6a. In this way, the fan 2 can even be fixed to the padding structure 6 without tools.
[0034] Another embodiment is shown in Figure 4, where a recess 6c is again present in the padding structure 6, serving to receive the fan 2. The fan 2, received in the recess 6c, has a preferably circumferential, collar-like projection 4a on its housing 4, which is not located in the recess 6c, but on the upper surface 6b of the fibrous material 6a of the padding structure. If the housing 4, or at least the collar-like projection 4a of the fan 2, consists of a weldable material, for example a thermoplastic, such as a thermoplastic polymer material, it can be welded or bonded to the material 6a of the padding structure 6 in the contact area 6b and thus fixed to the padding structure 6.
Claims
PATENT CLAIMS:
1. Motor vehicle seat component (1), comprising: a cushion structure ( 6) comprising or consisting of a cushioning material having a 3D structure of irregularly arranged, preferably thermoplastic, fibers ( 6a) fixed to one another, preferably by welding or fusing, a fan ( 2 ) with a housing ( 4 ), wherein the fan (2) is connected to the cushion structure (6) by at least one projection (3) attached to the housing (4), preferably by force-fit and / or form-fit, and / or ii) by joining a section (6b) of the padding structure (6) surrounding the housing (4) with an edge (4a) arranged on the housing (4) in a material-bonded manner is connected.
2. Motor vehicle seat component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, that the cushion structure ( 6 ) has a recess ( 6c) into which the fan ( 2 ) is inserted.
3. Motor vehicle seat component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the housing ( 4 ) has a round, preferably circular, base.
4. Motor vehicle seat component (1) according to claim 1, alternative i) and, preferably, claim 3, characterized by that at least one projection ( 3) or a plurality of projections ( 3) extends radially and / or tangentially outwards from the housing (4 ) in the manner of a wing and each has a free end (3a).
5. Motor vehicle seat component (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, that the projection (3) or projections (3) is / are flexible, preferably spring-elastic, so that it / they can be pressed with the free end (3a) towards the housing (4) under preload.
6. Motor vehicle seat component (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, that the free end (3a) of the projection(s) (3) engages in the padding structure (6).
7. Motor vehicle seat component (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized by that at least one projection (3) has at least one notch or at least one indentation (3b).
8. Motor vehicle seat component ( 1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one projection (3) tapers towards the free end (3a), preferably becoming pointed.
9. Motor vehicle seat component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that in alternative i) the fan (4) is fixed to the cushion structure ( 6) by rotating it relative to it.
10. Motor vehicle seat component (1) according to claim 1, alternative ii), characterized by that the edge (4a) is formed as a collar surrounding the housing (4) which rests on the section (6b) of the cushion structure (6).
11. Motor vehicle seat component (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that, that the edge (4a) is welded or glued to the section (6b) of the cushion structure (6).
12. Method for manufacturing a motor vehicle seat component, preferably a motor vehicle seat component (1) according to alternative i) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the following steps are carried out: i) Providing a cushioning structure ( 6) which a cushioning material comprising or consisting of which has a 3D structure of irregularly arranged, preferably thermoplastic, fibers ( 6a) fixed to one another, preferably by welding or fusing, ii) Providing a fan (2 ) with a housing (4 ) which has at least one projection (3) attached to the housing (4 ), iii) force-fit and / or form-fit connection of the fan (2) to the cushion structure (6), characterized in that, that the connection according to step iii) is made by inserting the fan (2 ) into a recess ( 6c) of the padding structure ( 6) in an insertion direction (E) and, after insertion, rotating it about an axis of rotation (A), whereby the at least one projection (3) penetrates the padding structure ( 6).
13. Method according to claim 11, characterized by that the projection (3) or projections (3) is / are pressed against the housing (4) to form a preload before insertion, preferably with its end(s) (3a).
14. Method according to claim 12, characterized by that after inserting and before rotating the fan (2), the projection (3) or projections (3) as a result of its / its preload against a wall of the recess ( 6c) is / will be pressed.