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Anti-whiplash vehicle seat

Anti-whiplash vehicle seat description/claims

The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering comprises a fixed side part and a central part, and wherein the central part is mechanically fastened, in particular at least in its lower region, to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element. The vehicle seat is to be suitable for reducing or avoiding whiplash, in particular in the event of an impact from the rear.

In a passive anti-whiplash system, seat components, even the rear panelling parts, contribute to carrying out the anti-whiplash function. In the event of an impact from the rear, the rear wall of the seat component is subjected to a severe loading by the occupant plunging a small distance into it. However, an increased plunging-in distance is desirable if an occupant's head is to whip as little as possible to the rear. A simultaneous and uniform interception of an occupant's body and head is particularly desirable.

This gives rise to the requirement, for a rear seat panelling, that it as far as possible does not obstruct an occupant's body from plunging into the backrest. It should assist the plunging-in operation by providing only a slight or at least defined resistance to the body without becoming lost or ejected itself. The same applies to flexible lumbar supports or internal seat components which are of flexible design and strike against the backrest covering.

DR 101 14 385 B4 discloses a motor vehicle seat with a backrest, a head restraint and a pivotable lever device arranged in between, the backrest surrounding one end of the lever device, the head restraint surrounding the other end of the lever device, and the pivot axis for the lever device being arranged within the backrest, the pivot axis being arranged in the upper region of the backrest, and the backrest bearing, on its rear side, a rigid lining shell which at least partially opens if there is a crash-induced action upon one end of the lever device. In this case, it is provided that the lining shell or an opening part of the lining shell can be hinged about a hinge axis in the lower region of the backrest.

JP 11048841 A discloses a shock-absorbing vehicle seat.

It is the object of the invention to provide an improved anti-whiplash vehicle seat. It is a further object of the invention to reduce the production costs for an anti-whiplash vehicle seat.

The abovementioned object is achieved by a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering comprises a fixed side part and a central part which is in particular dimensionally stable, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened, in particular at least in its lower region, to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element, and wherein the resilient element is fastened to the vehicle seat by means of a hook.

The central part is advantageously surrounded at the top and laterally by the side part. However, it may also be provided that the central part comprises an essential part of the rear backrest covering or is essentially the rear backrest covering.

In a further more advantageous refinement of the invention, the hook comprises an inwardly directed lug. In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the hook comprises a hook-side supporting surface which, when the resilient element is subjected to a tensile loading, is pressed against a vehicle-seat-side supporting surface. In this case, it is advantageously provided that, when the resilient element is not subjected to a load, the hook-side supporting surface is inclined, in particular by at least 20°, in relation to the vehicle-seat-side supporting surface.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the resilient element is elastic only in one spring direction. In this case, the resilient element is essentially inelastic in the directions orthogonal to the spring direction. Essentially inelastic is to be understood here in particular as meaning that the elasticity of the resilient element in the directions orthogonal to the spring direction is negligible, in particular significantly negligible, in relation to the elasticity in the spring direction.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the resilient element comprises a U spring or is configured as a U spring, with the U spring, in a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, comprising a rib for preventing the U spring from being compressed.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the resilient element and the central part, or the resilient element, the hook and the central part, are configured as a single piece, in particular as an injection-moulded part.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner of a hinge and/or such that it is pushed in.

The abovementioned object is also achieved by a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering comprises a fixed side part and a central part which is in particular dimensionally stable, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened, in particular at least in its lower region, to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element, and wherein the resilient element comprises a U spring or is configured as a U spring, and/or the resilient element is elastic only in one spring direction.

The central part is advantageously surrounded at the top and laterally by the side part. However, it may also be provided that the central part comprises an essential part of the rear backrest covering or is essentially the rear backrest covering.

In this case, the resilient element is essentially inelastic in the directions orthogonal to the spring direction. Essentially inelastic is to be understood here in particular as meaning that the elasticity of the resilient element in the directions orthogonal to the spring direction is negligible, in particular significantly negligible, in relation to the elasticity in the spring direction.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the resilient element comprises a U spring or is configured as a U spring, with the U spring, in a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, comprising a rib for preventing the U spring from being compressed.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the resilient element and the central part, or the resilient element, the hook and the central part, are configured as a single piece, in particular as an injection-moulded part.

In a furthermore advantageous refinement of the invention, the central part is fastened in its upper region to the vehicle seat in the manner of a hinge and/or such that it is pushed in.

The abovementioned object is also achieved by a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a rear backrest covering, wherein the rear backrest covering comprises a fixed side part and a central part which is in particular dimensionally stable, wherein the central part is mechanically fastened, in particular at least in its lower region, to the vehicle seat by means of a resilient element, and wherein the resilient element and the central part, or the resilient element, a hook of the resilient element and the central part, are configured as a single piece, in particular as an injection-moulded part.

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