EQUIPMENT PART FOR A VEHICLE WITH AUDIO UPHOLSTERY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN EQUIPMENT PART WITH AUDIO UPHOLSTERY DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates, inter alia, to an equipment part for a vehicle, including a base, at least one first foam layer and a covering, wherein the equipment part is provided with at least one audio cushion device which has at least one loudspeaker device having at least one loudspeaker, wherein each loudspeaker has a sound outlet. The first foam layer has an opening which extends along a center axis of the sound outlet such that the sound can continue through the opening in the direction toward the covering. A sound-permeable carrier layer covers the opening and in the direction of the sound propagation behind the carrier layer a second foam layer is arranged which engages over the opening.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. An equipment part for a vehicle, comprising: a base; at least one first foam layer; a covering; at least one audio cushion device that has at least one loudspeaker device having at least one loudspeaker with a sound outlet, wherein the first foam layer has an opening that extends along a center axis of the sound outlet so that the sound passes through the opening in a direction toward the covering; a sound-permeable carrier layer covering the opening; and a second foam layer that engages over the opening is arranged behind the carrier layer in a direction of sound propagation.

15. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the carrier layer is formed from a fabric and/or a grille.

16. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the carrier layer is fastened to the first foam layer.

17. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the carrier layer is foamed into the first foam layer.

18. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the opening has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the sound outlet, or that the diameter of the opening increases as the distance from the sound outlet of the loudspeaker increases.

19. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the opening has a diameter that increases as distance from the sound outlet of the loudspeaker increases.

20. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the second foam layer is fastened to the first foam layer.

21. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the second foam layer is arranged on the first foam layer so that an outer surface of the first foam layer and an outer surface of the second foam layer are flush to one another.

22. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein regions of the second foam layer are arranged in a recess in the first foam layer.

23. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the covering is leather, artificial leather or a textile.

24. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the covering is made completely or in regions from a sound-permeable textile.

25. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the first foam layer is a polyurethane foam.

26. The equipment part according to claim 14, wherein the equipment part is the headrest or part of a vehicle seat.

27. A method for producing an equipment part for a vehicle having an audio cushion device, comprising the steps of: providing a base; forming at least one first foam layer on the base so that an opening is formed in the first foam layer in a region of a sound outlet of at least one loudspeaker of at least one loudspeaker device of the equipment part; arranging a carrier layer to cover the opening; arranging a second foam layer behind the carrier layer in a direction of sound propagation so that the second foam layer covers the opening; and providing the first foam layer and the second foam layer with a covering.

Description

[0043] Shown are in:

[0044] FIG. 1 a perspective view of an equipment part of a vehicle in the form of a headrest with audio cushion devices,

[0045] FIG. 2 a sectional view of the vehicle equipment part according to FIG. 1 with integrated loudspeaker,

[0046] FIG. 3 an exploded view of the vehicle equipment part according to FIG. 2

[0047] FIG. 1 shows an equipment part 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, the equipment part 10 is a headrest for a vehicle seat. However, the equipment part could alternatively e.g. also be a vehicle seat, more particularly a seat back. In so-called integral seats, the headrest is integrated in the seat back of the vehicle seat. The invention can also be used here.

[0048] The equipment part comprises a head part 29 and a holding device 31. The head part is provided with two audio cushion devices 30a and 30b (see FIG. 1). Since the two audio cushion devices 30a and 30b have in principle the same structure, only the audio cushion device 30a will be described in more detail hereinafter.

[0049] The audio cushion device 30a comprises, according to FIGS. 2 and 3, a base 11, a first foam layer 13 and a covering 18, wherein the first foam layer 13 and the covering 18 are part of a cushion 19. The base 11 can e.g. be formed from a plastic carrier fastened on the seat back structure or alternatively (not shown) e.g. from wings of the headrest supported on the plastic carrier.

[0050] In the present example, a loudspeaker device 12 is fastened to the base 11, which loudspeaker device has here, for the sake of more simple explanation, merely one loudspeaker 32, but could however alternatively have a plurality of loudspeakers 32.

[0051] For fastening the loudspeaker device 12, the base 11 has, in the present exemplary embodiment, a recess 21, wherein the loudspeaker device 12 is fastened to the peripheral region of the recess. However, the loudspeaker device 12 could alternatively be arranged differently. The fastening of the loudspeaker device does not matter here.

[0052] The loudspeaker device 12 is arranged such that a center axis m of a sound outlet 22 of the loudspeaker 22 is oriented parallel to the direction x1. The first foam layer 13 is provided with an opening 14 so that the sound of the loudspeaker 32 can propagate unimpeded in direction x1 and the first foam layer 13 does not impair the propagation of the sound in direction x1.

[0053] Since the sound is not propagated parallel to the direction x1, and is rather propagated in an opening angle to said direction, a diameter of the opening 14 is e.g. greater than a diameter of the sound outlet or is alternatively designed conically such that the diameter of the opening increases as the distance in direction x1 from the sound outlet increases.

[0054] At a distance I1—measured from the sound outlet—transverse to the center axis m, the opening 14 is engaged over by a sound-permeable carrier layer 16, which in this example is held on the first foam layer 13. In the present example, peripheral regions of the carrier layer 16 are foamed into the first foam layer 13 for fastening. Alternatively, however, other fastening methods are conceivable, such as e.g. a glued fastening.

[0055] In the event of a force F acting on the covering in a direction x2, the carrier layer 16 prevents a deformation of the covering 18 which could damage the loudspeaker 12. Because the carrier layer 16 is fastened to the first foam layer 13, a force needed to deform the first foam layer 13 counteracts the force F. The length I1 is dimensioned accordingly for a defined force F.

[0056] Furthermore, the carrier layer 16, in the present example a fabric, can contribute to a seat occupant not feeling the opening 14 when said seat occupant rests against the covering 18. This is discussed in more detail below.

[0057] A second foam layer 17 is arranged behind the carrier layer 16 in direction x1 of the sound propagation. The sound-permeable second foam layer 17 also covers the opening 14 and extends transverse to the center axis m. In the region of the opening 14, holding means are formed to hold the second foam layer 17. The second foam layer 17 is fastened to the first foam layer 13 here.

[0058] In the present exemplary embodiment, for fastening the second foam layer 17, which is here formed of a foam part, the first foam layer 13 is provided with a recess 15 in which peripheral regions 28 of the second foam layer 17 are arranged and e.g. glued.

[0059] In this manner, in the region A of the opening 14, the same comfort of an elastically deformable bearing as in the regions B of the cushion 18 to the side of the opening 14 is ensured by means of the elastically deformable second foam layer 17. The seat occupant can thus also rest against or lean on the cushion 19 in the region A of the opening 14 without perceiving a difference in comfort between the region B to the side of the opening and region A of the opening 14.

[0060] The carrier layer 16 prevents the second foam layer from being pushed into the opening 14 in direction x2. Nevertheless, the sound can exit the cushion 19 in direction x1 because it can pass practically unimpeded through the opening 14, the carrier layer 16, the second foam layer 17 and the covering 18.

[0061] The entire covering 18 or a region of the covering 18 covering the opening 14 is e.g. formed of a sound-permeable textile. In the latter case, the sound-permeable region covers the opening 14. If the covering 18 is formed of a less sound-permeable material, such as e.g. leather or artificial leather, perforations 20 can be provided in the covering 18. If the covering 18 is formed of a sound-permeable material, such perforations 20 are not necessary.

[0062] The equipment part 10 is assembled in that firstly, fastening arms 26 of the loudspeaker device 12 are fastened to a peripheral region 27 of the opening 21. The first foam layer 13 is arranged such that the opening 14 is located in front of the sound outlet 22. The first foam layer 13 is e.g. formed of a prefabricated foam part which was previously produced.

[0063] For example the first foam layer 13 already comprises the sound-permeable carrier layer 16, wherein peripheral regions 33 of the carrier layer 16 were foamed in during production of the first foam layer 13, i.e. there is a permanent connection between the first foam layer 13 and the carrier layer 16. Alternatively, the carrier layer 16 is fastened to the first foam layer 13 e.g. by means of a glued connection such that the carrier layer 16 covers the opening 16.

[0064] On the first foam layer 13, means 23 are formed which serve to fasten a second foam layer 17. In this exemplary embodiment, the means 23 are formed by a recess 15 in the first foam layer 13. In terms of a height H, the recess 15 and the second foam layer 17 are dimensioned such that an outer surface 24 of the first foam layer 13 and an outer surface 25 of the second foam layer 17 are flush when the first foam layer 13 is fastened in the recess 15.

[0065] Peripheral regions 28 of the second foam layer 17 are inserted in the recess 15 of the first foam layer 13 and fastened thereto.

[0066] The second foam layer 17 offers the comfort of an elastic deformation under the action of a force F, but has the property that it has better sound permeability with respect to the first foam layer 13.

[0067] Then, the equipment part 10 is provided with the covering 18. This is formed e.g. with a high sound permeability overall or alternatively the covering is provided with a region having a higher sound permeability in relation to the other regions. In the latter case, the covering is arranged such that the region having higher sound permeability covers the opening 14.

[0068] If a covering 18 having a lower sound permeability is chosen, such as e.g. a leather covering, perforations 20 are e.g. introduced into the covering 18 before the covering 18 is installed.