Damped shock-absorbing seat

Abstract

A damping member (1) which has at least two engagement points (2), wherein the damping member (1) has an absorption means, wherein fastening elements (3) are arranged on the damping member (1), and wherein an additional absorption means (4) is provided which brings about shock absorption together with the absorption means.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle having a vehicle chassis, the system comprising: a seat having a backrest and a sitting surface coupled to the backrest; and at least one damping member configured to connect the seat to a portion of the vehicle chassis and extending from the sitting surface of the seat and positioned between the seat and the portion of the vehicle chassis for damping the seat, the at least one damping member defined by an outer periphery having a heart shape or a cloverleaf shape, wherein the heart-shaped outer periphery is defined by a vertex, two opposing rounded corners, a first convex side extending between the vertex and one of the rounded corners, a second convex side extending between the vertex and the other rounded corner, and a concave side extending between the two opposing rounded corners, wherein an acute angle is formed between the first convex side, the second convex side, and the vertex, wherein the cloverleaf-shaped outer periphery is defined by four rounded corners and a concave side extending between each adjacent pair of the four rounded corners, wherein the at least one damping member is configured to deform in the event of an action of force on the damping member, and wherein the at least one damping member is configured to provide shock absorption.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a strap coupled to the seat, the strap including a strap damping member, wherein: the strap is arranged such that moving parts of the seat are damped; the strap damping member includes seams that connect at least two layers of the strap to one another; the seams are configured to separate in the event of an action of force on the strap; and the at least one heart-shaped or cloverleaf-shaped damping member together with the strap damping member provide shock absorption.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one damping member includes at least two attachment points for introducing forces into the at least one damping member; and the at least two attachment points are offset from one another and not in alignment with one another.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the at least one damping member is retained in the event of normal loading of the at least one damping member.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one damping member is formed of metal.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one damping member is filled with elastically deformable material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Further features of the present invention are shown in the figures, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A-D show a seat according to the invention having damping members and a rear-side suspension arrangement

(3) FIG. 1A is a front view of the seat;

(4) FIG. 1B is a side view of the seat;

(5) FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the seat;

(6) FIG. 1D is a top view of the seat;

(7) FIG. 1E shows a damping member according to the invention in the shape of a heart;

(8) FIG. 1F shows a damping member according to the invention in the form of a strap;

(9) FIGS. 2A-D show a seat according to the invention having damping members and a lateral suspension arrangement;

(10) FIG. 2A is a front view of the seat;

(11) FIG. 2B is a side view of the seat;

(12) FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the seat;

(13) FIG. 2D is a top view of the seat;

(14) FIG. 2E is a damping member according to the invention in the shape of a heart;

(15) FIG. 2F is a damping member according to the invention in the form of a strap;

(16) FIG. 2G shows seams on a damping member according to the invention in the form of a strap;

(17) FIGS. 3A-D show a seat according to the invention having damping members and mounted on the chassis of a vehicle;

(18) FIG. 3A is a front view of the seat;

(19) FIG. 3B is a side view of the seat;

(20) FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the seat;

(21) FIG. 3D is a top view of the seat;

(22) FIG. 3E shows a damping member according to the invention in the shape of a cloverleaf;

(23) FIG. 3F shows a damping member according to the invention in the form of a strap;

(24) FIG. 3G shows damping members between the seat and the chassis.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(25) FIGS. 1A-E show a damping member 1 that has a housing and is designed approximately in a heart shape when viewed from the side. A fastening element 3 is secured at attachment points 2 on each side of the heart-shaped damping member 1.

(26) The fastening elements 3 are each preferably tubular. The longitudinal axes of the two tubes are vertically offset relative to each other. The damping member 1 that is of heart-shaped cross section is formed by sheet metal that surrounds the narrower outer sides and on which the tubes are mounted, in particular welded. The interior of the heart-shaped damping member 1 is filled with an elastically deformable material that constitutes a shock absorber.

(27) The two tube ends that project from the heart-shaped damping member 1 connect the chassis of the seat 10 to a chassis 11 of the vehicle. The tubes could likewise be inserted into existing tubes of the seat and/or of the chassis in a plug connection. To this end, fixing of the plug connection is rendered possible by holes 6 in the tubes that are provided for this purpose. A connection of this kind is shown for example in FIG. 1E.

(28) If the vehicle is impacted from the outside, the heart-shaped damping member 1 according to the invention allows the energy of the impact to be absorbed both by plastic deformation of the outer heart-shaped metal sheet (second shock absorber 4) and also by the elastically deformable material (shock absorber) inside the sheet metal in order to reduce the energy of the impact.

(29) Deformation is ensured by the two longitudinal axes of the two fastening tubes not being in alignment, but rather vertically offset relative to each other. This permits the heart-shaped damping member 1 to be telescoped to reduce the deformation energy and therefore considerably attenuate the impact acting from the outside, so that the person sitting on the seat 10 is very well protected against this external influence.

(30) In a further refinement, the damping member 1 is integrated into a strap 5. The person sitting on the seat 10 can strap himself in using a strap 5 of this kind, but straps can also be connected to the seat 10 and/or to the chassis of a vehicle in order to damp movement of parts of the seat 10. Provision is made is here for at least two layers of the strap material to be arranged substantially congruently one on the other in the region where the strap 5 forms the damping member 1.

(31) A plurality of seam lines that connect the two layers of strap material, which are mounted substantially so as to coextensively cover one another, to one another extend transversely to the longitudinal extent of the strap 5 at spacings from one another. Moreover, the strap 5 is usually connected first to the seat 10 and second to the chassis 11 or to the seat once again. To this end, the fastenings of the straps 5 form the fastening elements 3 of the damping member 1 and the ends of the strap 5 form the attachment points 2.

(32) The plurality of seam lines that extend parallel to each other and one after the other longitudinally of the strap 5 create predetermined tear points since the seams rupture in succession as a consequence of the impact from the outside and in this way reduce the energy of the impact. During normal operation of the vehicle, these seam lines that extend to each other are dimensioned such that they do not normally tear below a maximum loading with which the seat 10 may be loaded.

(33) FIG. 2G shows a possible seam arrangement for a damping member 1 according to the invention in the form of a strap 5. The seams that run parallel to each other and transversely of the strap 5 here connect two layers of the strap 5. The strap 5 itself is multilayered in the region of the seams. They can be loops that the strap 5 forms in the region of the seams, but the strap 5 can also form the multilayered region by a plurality of strap pieces being laid one over the other in an overlapping manner.

(34) In the event of action of force on the strap at the attachment points 2, a shear force is then exerted on the seams that can separate as a result and effect the damping of the damping member 1. As shown, the seams can each connect two layers, but they can also be continuous through all layers. In this case, the different seams can be formed from different materials with different tear characteristics.

(35) The strap is designed such that the damping member is not activated under normal conditions or forces. The damping member becomes active only above a certain load limit.

(36) FIGS. 1A-F show a seat of a vehicle that is connected to the seat 10 by the heart-shaped damping member 1 by tubes or the like that are mounted on it. Second, the damping member 1 is likewise connected to a chassis 11, not illustrated, of a vehicle by tubes or the like. The illustrated seat 10 is also equipped with the damping member 1 that is integrated in the strap 5. In this illustration, the back of the seat 10 is secured to the chassis 11 of the vehicle via of the heart-shaped damping members 1.

(37) FIGS. 2A-G likewise show that the heart-shaped damping member 1 and also the damping member 1 integrated in the strap 5 are used as damping members 1. However, in this refinement, the seat 10 is not mounted and fastened in the vehicle at the rear side, but rather laterally at a suitable point, by the heart-shaped damping members 1.

(38) FIG. 2B shows a particularly preferred arrangement of the damping members 1 that are incorporated in the strap 5. In this case, the strap 5 is coupled to the seat 10 at each of its attachment points 2, and one end of the strap 5 is coupled to the backrest of the seat and the other end of the strap 5 is coupled to the seat 10. As a result, the seat 10 can be damped in the event of an action of force on the vehicle if the sitting surface of the seat 10 is movable, for example foldable.

(39) Both types of damping members 1 are likewise used in FIGS. 3A-G, wherein a cloverleaf-shaped, not heart-shaped, damping member 1 is used. This at least one cloverleaf-shaped damping member 1 is provided between a chassis 11 of the vehicle, for example a floor plate, and a chassis of the seat 10, for example an underside of the sitting surface.

(40) As an alternative to the above-described heart-shaped cross section of the damping member 1, a cloverleaf-shaped cross section also comes into consideration, as shown in FIGS. 3A-G. A cloverleaf-shaped cross section of this kind of the damping member 1 is then used when provided for example between the chassis 11 of the vehicle and the chassis of the seat, so that the fastening tubes that are required in the case of the heart-shaped damping member 1 can be, but do not have to be, dispensed with. Even in the case of a cloverleaf-shaped damping member 1, tubes can be used in order therefore to arrange and to fasten the damping member 1 at its installation location.

(41) The invention is not restricted to the above-described features. Rather, further refinements are possible. For example, the second absorption element can be a sleeve around the absorption element. A housing can then also be arranged around the two damping elements. Plug connections at the attachment points and/or fastening elements are likewise possible in order to facilitate easy replacement of the damping members.