Patent Application
20080111403
The present application claims priority from German Application Nos. DE 102006053850.1 filed Nov. 14, 2006; DE 102006055646.1 filed Nov. 23, 2006; and DE 102007027828.6 filed Jun. 13, 2007 disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
This invention relates to a module for installation inside, in contact with or near a cushion element, a cushion element, a connecting means and a padded object according to the preambles of the independent claims, in particular for the temperature control or air conditioning of user-contact surfaces in the passenger compartment of a vehicle.
There has been a long standing need to improve the efficiency of assembly operations of complex multi-part components (e.g. vehicle seats, covered steering wheel, door panels, and the like) while improving and increasing the functionality of the components. The assembly of individual components can be time consuming, costly and can lead to increased damage due to improper installation of the components. The present invention seeks to solve at least some of these issues by component integration and an improved anchorage system.
A technical concept according to the independent claims is proposed. Further advantageous embodiments are evident from the following description and the dependent claims.
The invention is useful for guiding a module, during the installation thereof, into a desired position relative to a cushion element, and/or for hindering any movement of the installed module alongside the cushion element, at least in one direction. The invention permits a reduction in the production costs for the installation of a plurality of systems, such as ventilation, sensor systems, etc., in a seat, and also makes for better anchorage of the installed systems. Moreover, defective parts can be exchanged more easily because they are not joined to the seat by means of bonding or sewing but by an easily releasable form-fitting connection. At the same time, additional fastening elements such as adhesive tape, hook-and-loop tape or rivets are rendered unnecessary. The installation process itself is faster because there is no need to wait for adhesives to cure, or to make seams. Furthermore, there is less waste, because, e.g., there is no silicone release paper from adhesive tapes.
In principle, the invention is suitable for all padded objects, in particular vehicle seats, seat pads, passenger compartment trim, armchairs, or, for example, office equipment.
Details of the invention are explained in the following: These explanations are intended to elucidate the invention. However, they are only of exemplary nature. The scope of the invention naturally allows for one or more of the described features to be omitted, modified or supplemented. Further it is self-evident that the features of different embodiments can be combined with each other.
Reference will be made hereinafter to:
a) illustrates a section through the cushion of
b) illustrates another embodiment of a section through the cushion of
c) illustrates another embodiment of a section through the cushion of
d) illustrates another embodiment of a section through the cushion of
The vehicle is provided with at least one object 5 that is at least partially padded, said object 5 preferably being a padded interior fitting. This can be, for example, the steering wheel, the dashboard, an armrest, a door trim panel, a seat pad, an electric blanket, or, as here, a seat 10.
The padded object 5 has at least one cushion element 20 and at least one cover 90 that covers the cushion element 20.
The padded object 5 is provided with at least one module 30. This is housed between the cover 90 and the cushion element 20. The term “module” refers here to a unit comprising a plurality of components, in which a large number of similar components and/or of functionally related components that perform a certain function are combined to form an assembly or a functional unit.
The module 30 preferably has at least one support 40. This may be essentially planar, stranded, disk-shaped or block-shaped.
The support 40 may be formed from one or more components (e.g. layers). Preferably, it is made up at least partially of a textile, a multiple- or single-thread knitted fabric, a woven or non-woven fabric, a flexible thermoplastic, a porous, air-permeable and/or open-cell material, a polymer foam, a knitted spacer fabric and/or a film. The material may be equally well permeable in all directions, or it may exhibit directional air permeability in order to channel air selectively to a passenger or to let the air flow along a surface to be padded.
The support preferably extends substantially in two dimensions along a surface to be padded and/or air-conditioned.
Provision may be made for the module to feature a plurality of supports. These are then preferably assigned to different zones to be padded, for example seat and backrest, or two surfaces separated by a trench, such as the central part of the seat and the side bolster. In this case, the supports are preferably interconnected mechanically and/or electrically on the side facing away from the seat cover.
The module 30 preferably features at least one temperature-control device 50. The term “temperature-control device” refers to every kind of device that can be used to selectively change the temperature of its surroundings. More particularly, it refers to every device featuring at least one electrical heating element, a heat pump, an electrical heating resistor, one or more stranded or textile heating conductors, a Peltier element and/or a fan, and/or is essentially comprised thereof.
Preferably, a heating element featuring a large number of stranded heating conductors is provided, which are preferably arranged such that they meander beside each other and which are connected electrically in parallel. These may, for example, be arranged on a support (not shown) of their own, for example a multiple-thread knit or a nonwoven. A film and/or a net of selectively activatable adhesive, for example hot-melt adhesive, may be deemed a particularly suitable choice of support for this purpose.
The invention also makes provision for at least one stranded electrical conductor to be sheathed, at least section-wise, with an adhesive, in particular a heat-activatable adhesive. This makes for straightforward assembly, for example on a support 40 made of foam.
The electrical conductor may feature at least one filament-like inner strand (not shown) and, surrounding it at least in part, an electrically conducting sheathing layer 35. The term “sheathing layer” refers here to a layer which, directly or indirectly, surrounds a strand at least in part but is not necessarily the outermost layer surrounding the strand.
As shown in
For connecting it up to the on-board air-conditioning unit, the module 30 may be provided with a connection device that can be plugged into or connected with an appropriate supply line of the air-conditioning unit.
As shown in
The connecting means 60 features at least one profiled zone, hereinafter referred to as the profiled zone 68. In the profiled zone 68, the surface of the connecting means 60 differs in height from the surface in the neighborhood of the profiled zone 68. By “height” is meant the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the connecting means 60 or the module 30 substantially extends. The term “neighborhood” refers here particularly to a zone that is on the same side of the module as the connecting means, to the average or predominant height of which it corresponds.
The connecting means 60 preferably features at least one protuberance 61 and/or a recess 65. These may be configured as, but not limited to, the shape of pins, webs, troughs, knobs, cubes, pyramids, cylinders, mushroom heads and/or hemispheres.
Preferably, as here, a multiplicity of profiled zones 68 is provided, which are disposed relative to each other in comb-like, egg-carton-like, grid-like and/or fish-scale fashion.
Depending on their purpose, the profiled zones 68 can differ in their position and number as well as their shape. For example, it may only be necessary to provide a limited number of anchorage points at specific relevant points or surface areas, for example at the corners of the module, in the middle and/or in zones subject to frequent contact. This is the case with the embodiment of
The connecting means 60 and its profiled zones 68 may be formed, at least partially, in one piece with the support 40, i.e. as an integral part thereof. This is to advantage if, for example, the support 40 is made of a foamed material. However, it is also possible to attach the connecting means 60, or at least one profiled zone 68, separately, at least in part. This makes sense if, for example, the support 40 is made of a nonwoven. In such cases, bonded foam elements as shown in
The seat 10 preferably features at least one cushion element 20. This is preferably made, at least partially, of molded foam.
The cushion element 20 is likewise provided with a connecting means 70. The connecting means 70 features at least one profiled zone 78, which may be created according to the same considerations concerning structure and choice of material as for the profiled zone on the module. Preferably, it is created as an integral part of the cushion element 20, either inside or in contact with this, during the production thereof. It is preferably formed, at least partially, from the material of which the cushion element is made, and is preferably an integral part thereof.
At least one of the connecting means 60 of the module 30 and at least one connecting means 70 of the cushion element 20 match each other. By this is meant that their shapes correspond in such manner as to produce a desired, useful effect. This may be achieved, for example, by providing for the fitted connecting means 60, 70 to intermesh, at least partially. It would also be possible, however, for two recesses to be positioned one above the other such that they are congruent, and to connect them with each other by means of a separate fastener that belongs neither to the cushion element 20 nor to the module 30.
The connecting means 60, 70, or their profiled zones 68, 78, are preferably engineered such that their contours are identical or approximately mirror each other, and/or inversely.
a)-4d) shows some of many possible ways of matching the module's connecting means 60 with the connecting means 70 of the cushion element 20.
In the embodiment shown in
b) shows an embodiment with pyramid-shaped protuberances 61 on the module 30 and pyramid-shaped recesses 75 on the cushion element 20. To simplify installation, it is to advantage if at least one flank of at least one protuberance and/or of at least one recess is inclined at an angle of less than 90° and more than 0° relative to the direction of installation Z, in which the profiles are made to engage. This angle is preferably between 30° and 85°. In this context, the inclinations of the recesses and protuberances are coordinated such that a hollow space 80 remains in the region of their flanks.
The embodiment of
d) shows a module 30, in which a module 30 has a connecting means 60 featuring at least one profiled zone 68 in the form of an additional element 69 attached as a supplement to the module 30. This additional element is, for example, a foamed part bonded subsequently to the module. It is essentially cylindrical in shape but has an undercut 67, so that as a whole, the additional element has the shape of a mushroom head 66. The cushion element 20 is accordingly provided with at least one recess 75 which, for its part, features an undercut 77. This arrangement produces an approximately cylindrical blind hole 81 with a constricted opening. In an embodiment of this kind, the module 30 can be secured simultaneously against displacement in any spatial direction simply by placing it on the cushion element.
All of the embodiments illustrated in
If, for example, the embodiment shown in
An embodiment (not shown) could provide for a fan and/or a connection with the on-board air-conditioning unit to be installed in contact with the module 30, also for the module to feature a multiplicity of profiled zones, and for at least some of these profiled zones to extend as far as the fan/connection so as to form air ducts that distribute air at least under part of the base of the module.
The profiled zones 68 and 78 of the module 30 and the cushion element 20 are preferably coordinated such that they can only be made to engage each other effectively in one position if this is practical for installation of the module 30, for example due to the position of the air-supply connections.
The embodiments shown in
Appropriate undercuts 67, 77 are useful for holding the module 30 in the installation position and locking it in the desired end position. Alternatively, the module 30 can also be held by the cover 90, which is fitted later, of the seat 10.
Provision may also be made for the module 30 to be anchored to the cushion element 20 only at some of the entirety of profiled zones 68, 78 provided, preferably at the corners and in the central area of the module 30.
Provision is preferably made for at least partially intermeshing profiled zones 68, 78, or their protuberances 61 and recesses 65, to feature heights and depths respectively that differ from one another, so that, in the installed state, at least one hollow space is formed.
Preferably, provision is made for at least one hollow space 80 that extends predominantly in the longitudinal direction of the module 30 in order to transport air along the module, preferably between a profiled zone of the cushion element 20 and the profiled zone 68 of the module 30.
Accordingly, pursuant to one aspect of the present invention, there is contemplated a Module (30) for installation inside, in contact with or near a cushion element (20), is characterized in that the module (30) features at least a first connecting means (60), which at least partially matches at least a second connecting means (70) featured by the cushion element (20).
The invention may be further characterized by one or any combination of the features described herein, such as the Module is characterized in that the module (30) features at least one support (40), an air-conditioning device (55), a temperature-control device (50), a pressure sensor and/or a seat-occupancy recognition means and/or is essentially comprised thereof; characterized in that the module (30) and/or at least one of its components is foamed into at least one support (40), inserted into it, bonded onto it, or joined to it in another manner by a form-fitting or integral material connection.
Accordingly, pursuant to another aspect of the present invention, there is contemplated a Cushion element (20), characterized in that it features at least one connecting means (70), which at least partially matches at least one connecting means (60) of a module (30).
The invention may be further characterized by one or any combination of the features described herein, such as the connecting means (60, 70) for a cushion element (20) and/or a module (30), particularly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connecting means features at least one profiled zone (68, 78), at least one protuberance (61, 71) and/or at least one recess (65, 75) in order to engage at least one, at least partially matching, profiled zone (68, 78), recess (65, 75) or protuberance (61, 71) of an at least partially matching connecting means (60, 70); the connecting means (60, 70) is characterized in that it is fabricated at least partially from the same material as, and/or from a different material than, that of the module (30) and/or the cushion element (20) to which it belongs.
Accordingly, pursuant to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is contemplated a padded object (5) having at least one module (30), characterized in that the module (30) features a first connecting means (60) that engages a second, at least partially matching, connecting means (70) of the padded object (5).
The invention may be further characterized by one or any combination of the features described herein, such as the padded object (5) characterized in that, in the installed state, the module (30) and at least one cushion element (20) provided in contact with the padded object (5) and/or the connecting means (70) assigned to the padded object have a hollow space (80) between them.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102006053850.1 | Nov 2006 | DE | national |
| 102006055646.1 | Nov 2006 | DE | national |
| 102007027828.6 | Jun 2007 | DE | national |
