US-12617323-B2 - Backrest element for a vehicle seat

US12617323B2US 12617323 B2US12617323 B2US 12617323B2US-12617323-B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a backrest element for a vehicle seat, the backrest element comprising at least one frame element formed by a tubular element and forming at least one section of the backrest element, wherein a contour of the at least one frame element is given by a plurality of bends of the tubular element and is formed such that at least one inner surface is enclosed by the tubular element.

Inventors

Andreas Pöhlmann

Assignees

GRAMMER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230901
Priority Date: 20220930

Claims (16)

1 . A backrest element for a vehicle seat, wherein the backrest element comprises at least one frame element which is formed by a tubular element and shapes at least one section of the backrest element, a contour of the at least one frame element being given by a plurality of bends of the tubular element and being designed in such a way that at least one inner surface is enclosed by the tubular element, wherein the tubular element is a one-piece tubular element, wherein the at least one frame element comprises a belt section intended and suitable for arranging a belt device thereon, the belt section being provided in an upper region of the backrest element, and wherein at a lower end of the belt section, along a longitudinal axis X, two portions of the tubular element are abutted substantially along a height axis Z, wherein the belt section is formed in such a way that it delimits a first inner surface.
2 . The backrest element according to claim 1 , wherein the backrest element comprises a lower region suitable and intended for providing support in a lumbar region of an occupant, while the upper region of the backrest is suitable and intended for providing support in a shoulder region of the occupant and/or for receiving or providing a headrest.
3 . The backrest element according to claim 1 , wherein a first plate-like element being arranged in the first inner surface, at least in sections, the first plate-like element being arranged on the belt section by means of a material connection.
4 . The backrest element according to claim 2 , wherein the upper region of the backrest element comprises the at least one frame element, wherein only one frame element is provided in the upper region of the backrest element, wherein the frame element is arranged on a lower backrest element portion forming the lower region of the backrest element.
5 . The backrest element according to claim 1 , wherein a lower region of the backrest element and the upper region of the backrest element comprise the at least one frame element, wherein only one frame element is provided.
6 . The backrest element according to claim 5 , wherein a lower portion of frame element comprises two loop-like segments spaced from each other along a width axis Y, at which the loop-like segments each enclosing a second inner surface wherein a second plate-like element is arranged in or on each of the second inner surfaces, at least in sections, wherein the respective second plate-like element is arranged on the respective loop-like segment by means of a material connection.
7 . The backrest element according to claim 6 , wherein the respective loop-like segment comprises a third section of the tubular element extending downwardly along the longitudinal axis X and a fourth section of the tubular element extending upwardly along the longitudinal axis (X), the third section being connected to the fourth section via a bent fifth section of the tubular element, wherein in a lower portion of the loop-like segment, the third portion and the fourth portion are spaced apart along the height axis Z, wherein in an upper portion of the loop-like segment, the third portion and the fourth portion are adjacent to each other, and wherein a first transverse section of the tubular element is provided extending along the width axis Y between the upper portions of the two loop-like segments.
8 . The backrest element according to claim 3 , wherein at least one further plate-like element and/or a support strut is arranged on the frame element, the further plate-like element and/or the support strut being arranged on the frame element by means of a material connection.
9 . A Vehicle seat with a backrest element according to claim 1 .
10 . Method of manufacturing a backrest element according to claim 1 for a vehicle seat, comprising the following steps: providign the tube element; Bending the tube element a plurality of times by means of a first tube bending machine, thereby creating a preform; Applying a rod-like auxiliary tool; and Bending the preform about the rod-like auxiliary tool such that a lower end of the preform is brought to a middle section of the preform.
11 . A backrest element for a vehicle seat, wherein the backrest element comprises at least one frame element which is formed by a tubular element and shapes at least one section of the backrest element, a contour of the at least one frame element being given by a plurality of bends of the tubular element and being designed in such a way that at least one inner surface is enclosed by the tubular element, wherein a lower region of the backrest element and an upper region of the backrest element comprise the at least one frame element, wherein only one frame element is provided, and wherein a lower portion of frame element comprises two loop-like segments spaced from each other along a width axis Y, wherein the loop-like segments each enclose a second inner surface, wherein a second plate-like element is arranged in or on each of the second inner surfaces, at least in sections, and wherein the respective second plate-like element is arranged on the respective loop-like segment by means of a material connection.
12 . The backrest element according to claim 11 , wherein the lower region is suitable and intended for providing support in a lumbar region of an occupant, and wherein the upper region is suitable and intended for providing support in a shoulder region of the occupant and/or for receiving or providing a headrest.
13 . The backrest element according to claim 11 , wherein the frame element comprises a belt section intended and suitable for arranging a belt device thereon, the belt section being provided in the upper region of the backrest element, wherein at a lower end of the belt section, along a longitudinal axis X, two portions of the tubular element are abutted substantially along a height axis Z.
14 . The backrest element according to claim 13 , wherein the belt section is formed in such a way that it delimits a first inner surface, wherein a first plate-like element is arranged in this first inner surface, at least in sections, the first plate-like element being arranged on the belt section by means of a material connection.
15 . The backrest element according to claim 11 , wherein the respective loop-like segment comprises a third section of the tubular element extending downwardly along a longitudinal axis X and a fourth section of the tubular element extending upwardly along the longitudinal axis X, the third section being connected to the fourth section via a bent fifth section of the tubular element, wherein in a lower portion of the loop-like segment, the third portion and the fourth portion are spaced apart along a height axis Z, wherein in an upper portion of the loop-like segment, the third portion and the fourth portion are adjacent to each other, wherein a first transverse section of the tubular element is provided extending along the width axis Y between the upper portions of the two loop-like segments.
16 . The backrest element according to claim 11 , wherein at least one further plate-like element and/or a support strut is arranged on the frame element, the further plate-like element and/or the support strut being arranged on the frame element by means of a material connection.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2022 125 400.3, filed Sep. 30, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD The invention relates to a backrest element for a vehicle seat comprising a frame element and a vehicle seat comprising such a backrest element. BACKGROUND Such vehicle seats are suitable for commercial vehicles, for example trucks, tractors or construction machines or similar vehicles. Usually, such backrest elements are welded together from various individual parts. For example, several spars are welded together with connecting and/or stiffening plates or sheets. The disadvantage here is the number of parts and the number or total length of the weld seams. It would also be desirable to reduce the weight of the backrest element. A further disadvantage is that the prefabricated individual parts mean that there is little flexibility in terms of redesigning the backrest. SUMMARY It is the object of the invention to provide a backrest element in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are overcome or at least reduced. The object is solved by the object of the backrest element of the invention. Advantageous embodiments are to be taken from the detailed description of the invention. The core idea of the invention is a backrest element for a vehicle seat, wherein the backrest element comprises at least one frame element which is formed by a tubular element and shapes at least one section of the backrest element, wherein a contour of the at least one frame element is given by a plurality of bends of the tubular element and is configured in such a way that at least one inner surface is enclosed by the tubular element. By using the at least one frame element which forms a portion of the backrest element by means of a plurality of bends of a tubular element, a plurality of welded joints can be avoided. Furthermore, the number of components to be welded is also significantly reduced. Consequently, the weight of the backrest element is also reduced. In addition, the number of tools required to manufacture the backrest element is greatly reduced. By using modern CNC bending machines, the contour of the frame element can be easily reshaped if necessary, allowing a high degree of design flexibility in accordance with the requirements of the backrest element. In engineering mechanics, bend refers to a mechanical change in the geometry of slender components, such as the tubular element. Typical bends are changes in the curvature of the centerline or surface compared to the curvature that the component had in the unstressed state, due to static and dynamic stresses. The backrest element extends along a longitudinal axis X, along a width axis Y and along a height axis Z. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the backrest element comprises a lower region suitable and intended for providing support in the lumbar vertebral region of the occupant. Advantageously, the backrest element comprises an upper region suitable and intended for providing support in the shoulder region of the occupant and/or for receiving or providing a headrest. Advantageously, the frame element is formed of a one-piece tubular element. A one-piece design in this context means that all sections are made from a single and uniform part. According to a further particularly advantageous embodiment, the frame element comprises a belt section which is intended and suitable for arranging a belt device thereon. Preferably, the belt section is provided in the upper portion of the backrest element. Advantageously, in a lower end of belt section along a longitudinal axis X, two sections of the tubular element are adjacent to each other substantially along a height axis Z. These superimposed sections of the tubular element may also be referred to as the entanglement of the tubular element. The superimposed sections of the tubular element provide local reinforcement of the frame or backrest element. Due to the arrangement of the belt device on the belt section, an increased force is exerted on the belt section in the event of an accident or crash. In particular, in the area where the sections of the tubular element overlap, the forces that occur are especially large. As a rule, a large proportion of the force action is directed forward along the height direction Z. The described advantageous juxtaposition of the first section of tubular element and the second section of the tubular element along the height axis Z takes just such an effect of force into account. According to a further preferred embodiment, the belt section is formed in such a way that it bounds a first inner surface. Advantageously, a first plate-like element is arranged in this first inner surface, at least in sections. Accordingly, the first plate-like element can fill the entire first inner surface or only a part of the first inner surface. Preferably, the fir