Vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat

• US 7,252,341 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S..R.L.
• Original Assignee: Recaro GmbH & Co. KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Kaiser, Thomas, Kircher, Sascha, Schlenker, Ulf, Dittler, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US11/546,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20070040440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.55, 297/452.25, 297/452.23, 297/452.24, 297/452.33, 297/452.34, 297/452.36, 297/452.38, 297/452.21, 297/452.22, 297/452.29, 297/452.31, 297/452.56, 297/452.58, 297/440.1, 297/440.11, 297/440.14, 297/440.15
• US Class Current: 297/452.55
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/646 shape of the cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames

Abstract

In the case of a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, with a seat part and a backrest as seat components, of which at least one seat component has a structure (11) and at least one adapter (15) arranged on the structure (11), the adapter (15) bears extensively and with a form-fitting connection on the structure (11).

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat part and a backrest, wherein at least one seat component, which is selected from the group consisting of the seat part and the backrest, includes

(a) a structure,

(b) at least one adapter for functionally upgrading the structure, wherein the adapter is on the structure, there is a form-fitting connection between the adapter and the structure, the adapter bears against an extensive area of the structure, and the structure supports the adapter,

(c) a pad bearing against the adapter, wherein the adapter is positioned between the pad and the structure, and

(d) a cover fastened to the structure, wherein the cover is stretched over the pad, and the cover fixedly holds together the adapter and the structure, and the adapter substantially shapes at least a portion of the pad so that the portion of the pad is in a first predetermined configuration, and

wherein the adapter functionally upgrading the structure comprises

(1) the adapter substantially shaping the portion of the pad in the first predetermined configuration,

(2) the structure adapted to support the pad without the adapter being positioned between the structure and the pad so that the portion of the pad is in a second predetermined configuration, and

(3) the second predetermined configuration being substantially different from the first predetermined configuration.

2. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter is positioned between two mutually opposite sides of the structure.

3. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover being stretched over the pad comprises:

the cover being in tension, and

the cover having been pulled over the pad.

4. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter is additionally fastened to the structure.

5. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter is a single piece of rigid foam.

6. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the seat component extends in a longitudinal direction;

the adapter extends in the longitudinal direction of the seat component, and

the adapter includes lateral form-giving material portions that are integrally formed on the adapter and are operative for laterally supporting an occupant sitting in the seat.

7. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein the adapter is a single piece of rigid foam.

8. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter is operative:

for providing a passive crash protection function in response to a crash, and

so that the passive crash protection function comprises material of the adapter absorbing and/or dissipating energy.

9. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 8, wherein the adapter is a single piece of rigid foam.

10. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one subassembly is operatively associated with the adapter.

11. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein the subassembly being operatively associated with the adapter comprises:

the subassembly being on the adapter.

12. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the seat component is the backrest, whereby the backrest includes the adapter, and

the subassembly, which is operatively associated with the adapter, is selected from the group consisting of a lordosis support and a shoulder inclination adjuster.

13. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the seat component is the seat part, whereby the seat part includes the adapter, and

the subassembly, which is operatively associated with the adapter, is selected from the group consisting of an anti-submarining ramp and a seat surface extension.

14. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 10, wherein the subassembly is a cheek adjuster.

15. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured for having at least one subassembly operatively associated therewith.

16. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat part and a backrest, wherein the seat part includes

(a) a structure,

(b) at least one adapter on the structure,

(c) a pad bearing against the adapter, wherein the adapter is positioned between the pad and the structure,

(d) a cover fastened to the structure, wherein the cover is stretched over the pad, the cover fixedly holds together the adapter and the structure, the pad has a shape, and the adapter at least partially defining the shape of the pad, and

(e) at least one subassembly on the adapter, wherein the subassembly is a seat surface extension.

17. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

the seat part extends in a longitudinal direction;

the adapter extends in the longitudinal direction of the seat part, and

the adapter includes lateral form-giving material portions that are integrally formed on the adapter and are operative for laterally supporting an occupant sitting in the seat.

18. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 16, wherein the adapter is a single piece of rigid foam.

19. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 16, wherein there is a form-fitting connection between the adapter and the structure, and the adapter bears against an extensive area of the structure.

20. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 19, wherein the adapter is additionally fastened to the structure.

21. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 16, wherein the structure supports the adapter and the adapter is configured so that the adapter substantially shapes at least a portion of the pad so that the portion of the pad is in a first predetermined configuration.

22. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 21, wherein the adapter is for functionally upgrading the structure at least with respect to shaping the pad, wherein the structure can support the pad without the adapter being positioned between the structure and the pad so that the portion of the pad is in a second predetermined configuration, and the second predetermined configuration is substantially different from the first predetermined configuration.

23. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

the structure includes four segments that are arranged end-to-end and together extend around a central opening of the structure;

the adapter includes four segments that are arranged end-to-end and together extend around a central opening of the adapter; and

the seat surface extension is positioned on a front segment of the four segments of the adapter.

24. A vehicle seat for being sat in by an occupant, the vehicle seat comprising:

a seat part and a backrest, wherein at least one seat component, which is selected from the group consisting of the seat part and the backrest, includes

(a) a structure,

(b) at least one foam adapter on the structure, wherein there is a form-fining connection between the foam adapter and the structure, and the foam adapter bears against an extensive area of the structure,

(c) at least one movably mounted subassembly for increasing comfort of the occupant sitting in the vehicle seat, wherein the movably mounted subassembly is on the foam adapter, and the movably mounted subassembly is selected from the group consisting of a seat surface extension, a cheek adjuster and a shoulder inclination adjuster,

(d) a foam pad bearing against the foam adapter and the movably mounted subassembly, wherein foam of the foam adapter is more rigid than foam of the foam pad and the foam adapter is positioned between the foam pad and the structure, and

(e) a cover fastened to the structure, wherein the cover is stretched over the foam pad, the cover fixedly holds together the foam adapter and the structure, the structure supports the foam adapter, and the foam adapter substantially shapes at least a portion of the foam pad.

25. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 24, wherein:

the seat component extends in a longitudinal direction;

the foam adapter extends in the longitudinal direction of the seat component, and

the foam adapter includes lateral form-giving material portions that are integrally formed on the foam adapter and are operative for laterally supporting the occupant sitting in the seat.

26. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

the seat component is the backrest, whereby the backrest includes the foam adapter, and

the movably mounted subassembly, which is on the adapter, is selected from the group consisting of the shoulder inclination adjuster and the cheek adjuster.

27. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

the seat component is the seat part, whereby the seat part includes the foam adapter, and

the movably mounted subassembly, which is on the adapter, is selected from the group consisting of the seat surface extension and the cheek adjuster.

28. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 24, wherein:

the foam adapter is a single piece of foam, and

the foam adapter includes four segments that are arranged end-to-end and together extend around a central opening that extends through the foam adapter.

29. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 24, wherein the portion of the foam pad, which is substantially shaped by the foam adapter, is in a first predetermined configuration, the foam adapter is for functionally upgrading the structure, and the foam adapter functionally upgrading the structure comprises:

the foam adapter substantially shaping the portion of the foam pad in the first predetermined configuration,

the structure being capable of supporting the pad without the adapter being positioned between the structure and the pad so that the portion of the pad is in a second predetermined configuration, and

the second predetermined configuration being substantially different from the first predetermined configuration.

30. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 24, wherein the foam adapter is additionally fastened to the structure.

31. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 24, wherein:

the seat component is the seat part; and

the movably mounted subassembly, which is on the foam adapter, is the seat surface extension.