SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE SEATS AND/OR VEHICLE CABINS HAVING AN ELASTOMER MEMBER

• US 20120153551A1
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: KOLB, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 267/140.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/002 Suspension details of the suspension of the vehicle body on the vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/004 Other suspension arrangements with rubber springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/542 made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, e.g. polymers
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/371 characterised by inserts or auxiliary extension or exterior elements, e.g. for rigidification F16F1/387 takes precedence; non-embedded reinforcing elements for flexibly-walled air springs F16F9/0436

Abstract

The invention relates to a suspension device for vehicle seats and/or vehicle cabins for applying a spring force to a vibratory motion of a first component relative to a second component, preferably in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the vehicle, wherein at least one elongate spring member extending at least in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the vehicle is connected in at least one end region to the first component and in the central region thereof to the second component, wherein the elongate spring member is made from a flexible elastomer material that is formed to be rod-shaped.

Claims

1. A suspension device for vehicle seats and/or vehicle cabins for applying a spring force to a vibratory motion of a first component relative to a second component, preferably in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the vehicle, wherein at least one elongate spring member extending in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the vehicle is connected in at least one end region to the first component and in the central region thereof to the second component,

wherein the elongate spring member is made from a flexible elastomer material that is formed to be rod-shaped.

2. The suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central region of the elongate spring member is at least partially clamped by the second component in a clamping region.

3. The suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two metal strip members that preferably at least partially extend parallel to each other are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the spring member within the elastomer material and/or adjacent thereto.

4. The suspension device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the length of the metal strip members is smaller than the length of the entire spring member, so that elastomer regions that are free from any metal strip members exist in the end regions of the spring member.

5. The suspension device as claimed claim 3, wherein the metal strip members extend from a parallel position and diverge towards the end regions thereof.

6. The suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring member has a round cross-section in the central region thereof so as to enable it to be mounted in a rotatable manner about the longitudinal axis thereof in the clamping region of the second component formed to be complementary thereto.

7. The suspension device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the metal strip members extend widthwise upon a 90°

turn about the longitudinal axis thereof in the vibration direction of the components.

8. The suspension device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the metal strip members extend widthwise in a 0°

rotary position about the longitudinal axis thereof vertically to the vibration direction of the components.

9. The suspension device as claimed in claim 1, the end regions of the spring member include a section having a square or rectangular cross-section.

10. The suspension device as claimed claim 1, wherein the metal strip members are rigid in the width direction thereof and are flexible vertically to the lateral direction.