Head restraint and method of making and using same

ABSTRACT

A head restraint of a vehicle seat has at least one elastically deformable container integrated therein. The container is at least partially filled with filling bodies and gas. An abrupt evacuation of the gas in the event of a crash changes the collision impact characteristics of the head restraint.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the priority of German Patent Document 100 36 261.3, filed in Germany, Jul. 26, 2000, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a head restraint which is integrated here into a backrest of a vehicle seat . Of course, however, embodiments of the invention are contemplated which relate to head restraints which constitute a separate component from the backrest.

A virtually shape-equivalent container which has an elastically deformable covering is arranged in the head restraint . Filling bodies are enclosed in the covering, the filling material not being tightly packed in the normal state and permitting soft and comfortable formation of the head restraint .

As can also be gathered from FIG. 2, the filling bodies are arranged in the container in different chambers A, B, C, D, which in each case constitute a type of inlay bag, in order to prevent the filling material from slumping and to ensure a uniform distribution of the filling bodies , which are composed here of different materials. The bag-like chambers A, B, C and D are selected with regard to their material in such a manner that filling material is unable to escape in the event of a gas evacuation, which is described in greater detail below.

The container is connected via a duct to a valve device , a vacuum pump and a vacuum reservoir container , via which, if a crash event is recognized by means of a customary pre-crash sensory mechanism , a negative pressure or vacuum can be abruptly generated in the container in order to stiffen and compact the filling bodies in the container . In this case, the triggering of the crash signal causes the valve device to switch over and the gas which is in the container to be conveyed via the duct , which preferably has the largest possible duct cross section in order to rapidly obtain a vacuum, into the vacuum reservoir container which, in the design shown, is integrated within the vehicle seat , namely in the region of the backrest of the vehicle seat.

However, in another embodiment of the invention, the vacuum reservoir container can also be arranged integrated on the lower side of the vehicle seat .

A separate pump or else even a pump which is already present, for example, a series pump for a central locking system of the vehicle, can be used as the vacuum pump . If the vacuum pump is combined with the vacuum reservoir container , the vacuum pump can be of comparatively small design, in which case the vacuum pump can be switched off after the appropriate pressure level has been reached in the container . An overpressure container , as shown in Figure 3, using a Venturi principle via a Venturi nozzle , can be used to generate the vacuum or negative pressure in the container.

As a consequence of the generation of negative pressure or a vacuum in the container , the entire head restraint in the present case becomes more compact in order to absorb energy and support the head, but provision may, for example, also be made for the vacuum to be generated only in part of the space, so that, for example, an inner region of the head restraint becomes more compact and a soft ring remains surrounding it.

The chambers A, B, C and D are, as can be gathered in particular from FIG. 2, connected gas- and pressure-conductively to one another via corresponding openings or ducts , but they may, of course, also be separated from one another in a hermetically sealed manner and each connected to the duct for setting the appropriate state of pressure.

The chambers A, B, C and D which are shown by way of example in FIG. 2 indicate that filling bodies which differ in each case therein can be provided with a different degree. of filling, and that the number of the individual chambers, their geometrical shape, the connection of the chambers to one another and the type of filling can be coordinated at any time individually to the given requirements, so that in conjunction with the application of the negative pressure for the event of a crash, for example in the case of a rear-end impact, the best absorption properties in each case can be obtained.

The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic cross section through a head restraint of a vehicle seat according to preferred embodiments of the invention, shown in a normal state;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a container which is arranged in the head restraint according to the invention and is equipped with chambers which differ in filling and design; and

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment utilizing the Venturi principle.

CLAIMS

1. Head restraint of a vehicle seat, in which at least one container having an elastically deformable, gas tight covering is integrated, said container being filled with a gas and at least partially with filling bodies and being provided with at least one duct which is connected to an evacuator assembly for an abrupt evacuation of the gas in the event of a crash and for refilling of the gas, a vacuum being applied automatically in the event of said crash, wherein the at least one duct is connected to a vacuum reservoir container of the evacuator assembly.

2. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein the evacuator assembly is activated by a pre-crash sensory mechanism.

3. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein the evacuator assembly for an abrupt evacuation of the gas in the event of a crash and for refilling of the gas is integrated below or within the vehicle seat.

4. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein the container is divided into a plurality of chambers which are at least partially filled with the filling bodies.

5. Head restraint according to claim 4, wherein the chambers are designed being one of hermetically sealed with respect to one another and at least partially gas-conductively connected to one another.

6. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein the filling bodies consist of different materials.

7. Head restraint according to claim 6, wherein the materials for the filling bodies comprise deformable and non-deformable materials.

8. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein the duct has at least one valve device of the evacuator assembly located therein.

9. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein the duct is connected to a vacuum pump of the evacuator assembly.

10. Head restraint according to claim 9, wherein a pump for a central locking system in the vehicle can be used as the vacuum pump.

11. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein the duct is connected to a vacuum reservoir container of the evacuator assembly.

12. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein the duct is connected to an overpressure container.

13. Head restraint according to claim 1, wherein the duct has a Venturi nozzle.

14. A vehicle head restraint assembly comprising: at least one container with an elastically deformable covering, gas and filling bodies in the at least one container, a duct connected to the at least one container, and an evacuator operable in use to evacuate the gas from the at least one container through the duct, a vacuum being applied automatically to the container in the event of a crash, wherein the duct is connected to the evacuator via a vacuum reservoir container.

15. A vehicle head restraint assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a pre-crash sensing mechanism operable to activate the evacuator in response to a predetermined crash event involving a vehicle including said head restraint assembly.

16. A vehicle head restraint assembly according to claim 14, comprising a plurality of said containers together forming a head restraint.

17. A vehicle passenger seat assembly comprising: a backrest, a headrest composed of at least one container with an elastically deformable covering, gas and filling bodies in the at least one container, a duct connected to the container, and an evacuator operable in use to evacuate the gas from the at least one container through the duct, wherein the duct is connected to the evacuator via a vacuum reservoir container, and wherein said evacuator is disposed at least in part in said backrest, a vacuuming being applied automatically to the container in the event of a crash.

18. A vehicle passenger seat assembly according to claim 17, further comprising a pre-crash sensing mechanism operable to activate the evacuator in response to a predetermined crash event involving a vehicle including said head restraint assembly.

19. A method of making a vehicle head restraint assembly, comprising: connecting a plurality of containers together, which said containers each include an elastically deformable covering, filling at least one of the containers with gas and filling bodies, attaching a duct to communicate with an interior space of the at least one of the containers, and providing an evacuator operable to evacuate gas from the at least one of the containers through the duct automatically in the event of a crash, wherein the duct is connected to the evacuator via a vacuum reservoir container.

20. A method of operating a vehicle head restraint assembly which includes: at least one container with an elastically deformable covering, gas and filling bodies in the at least one container, a duct connected to the at least one container, said method comprising evacuating gas from the at least one container through said duct via a vacuum reservoir container automatically in response to detection of a vehicle crash condition.

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