The invention relates to the design of seats with adjustable inclination or reclining and is aimed at improving the comfort of placing a user on a device containing such a seat. The seat structure includes a support frame, a seat and a backrest. The seat includes a seat frame formed by the sidewalls, the front cross member and the rear cross member, and is pivotally connected to the support frame by at least one attachment mechanism located below the seat surface. At least one balancing spring is installed between the seat and the support frame, containing the first and second side elements, as well as the front and rear elements frames. The attachment mechanisms are mounted asymmetrically with respect to the seat compared to the central axis of the seat, such that the hinge axis extends between the knees and hips of the user, who sits on the seat structure in a normal posture with legs parallel and leaning back on the seat back. The fastening mechanism is located between the sidewalls of the seat and the side elements of the support frame. 4 n. and 4 z.p. f-ly, 11 ill.
The field of technology to which the invention belongs
The present invention relates to the construction of a seat for a couch, armchair, sofa (chaise longue) or the like. In particular, the invention relates to a seat structure with adjustable tilt or reclining.
State of the art
From DE 102 00 401 A1 a couch is known in which the seat can be folded down by means of a lifting device installed at the rear edge of the seat. However, such a reclining mechanism is only useful for converting the seat into a reclining back cushion.
In addition, some models of Applicant's StressLess series of couches have curved rails in the seat and back that allow each seat to be pushed forward or raised.
However, all known solutions are very complex and contain many interacting elements. This contributes to a higher production cost and hence a high product price, and may also limit the "range comfortable conditions"products, i.e. positions in which the user is comfortable sitting or lying on the couch.
Disclosure of invention
The object of the invention is to provide a couch or other seating/lying furniture that provides increased comfort by adjusting the angle of the seat without limiting the number of user-friendly positions or significantly increasing the price of the product.
This problem is solved by the seat structure according to claim 1, which is suitable for use in a couch, armchair or sofa.
Brief description of the drawings
The following is a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a reclining seat structure with bolster removed,
figure 2 is a side view of the design of the seat with the side wall removed,
figure 3 is a corresponding side view with the seat tilted down,
figure 4 is a front view of the seat structure,
figure 5 is a top view of the seat structure,
Fig. 6 is a plan view in longitudinal section and a side view of a sofa with a seat structure according to the invention; the sofa is shown without bolsters, with the seat in the first flat position,
Fig.7 - sofa with a seat in the second position,
Fig.8 - detail of the sofa; used elastic element, a - perspective view, b - sectional view,
9 and 10 are perspective views of examples of furniture incorporating the seating arrangement of the invention and implemented as a daybed and a sofa, respectively.
Implementation of the invention
Figure 1 shows the design of the seat according to the invention. As shown in the drawing, two seats are installed next to each other, forming a two-seater sofa. The invention relates to a seat structure which can be used as a main component in any seating furniture. The drawing only shows the body, seat and backrest. When used in an armchair or sofa, sides, bolsters, cushions, etc. are also provided.
The seat structure 1 includes a support frame 2, a backrest 3 and a seat 4. The support frame 2 consists of four vertical plates forming a rectangular block with an open top and bottom. This support frame is intended for mounting components that form furniture, in particular the seat 4, the backrest 3, the legs 5 and the like. In this case, each support frame includes the first and second side elements 2a, b, as well as the front and rear elements 2c, d of the frame.
The seat 4 includes a seat frame 6, seat springs 7 and at least one hinged attachment mechanism. In this embodiment, the seat frame 6 has the shape of a square with four sides formed by two essentially rectilinear mutually parallel front and rear crossbars 9a, b, one of which runs next to the backrest 3, and the other, parallel to it, along the front side of the frame, and two angular or curvilinear mutually parallel sidewalls 10a, b. The seat springs 7 pull the seat frame 6 between the front and rear cross members 9a, b to form a spring surface for a cushion or the like. The attachment mechanism is made up of two hinged attachment devices 8a, b mounted on the side members 2a, b for attaching the seat 4 to the support frame 2. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the seat frame includes a third cross member 10c that extends beyond the perimeter of the seat frame , while the ends of the said cross member are suspended in the fastening devices 8a, b on the support frame. The fastening devices are made in the form of support blocks made of a suitable material, in particular wood or metal, but preferably plastic. The cross member increases the rigidity of the seat frame. In an alternative embodiment, short lengths of pipes can be welded to the seat frame, on which the fastening devices are mounted.
In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the attachment devices 8a, b are mounted asymmetrically to the seat 4 with respect to the central axis passing through the seat, so that the hinge axis will pass between the knees and hips of the user, who sits on the seat in a normal posture with legs parallel and reclined on the back of the seat. The attachment devices can be installed, for example, one third of the distance from the front of the seat. The object of the invention is to arrange the fastening devices in such a way as to ensure a self-balancing reclining of the backrest. The fastening devices preferably do not include stoppers or brakes, so the tilt is limited by the fastening devices and their arrangement in combination with the springs.
The fastening mechanism also provides for a substantially horizontal position of the seat when the user lies on it, and tilts the seat down at the rear when the user sits down. The seat tilts back, i.e. to the back at an angle greater than 0 degrees, preferably 0 to 10 degrees, more preferably 3 to 7 degrees, 2 to 6 degrees, 4 to 8 degrees, or 4 to 6 degrees, and most preferably about 5 degrees from the horizontal surfaces.
The self-balancing adjustment of the seat angle increases the user's feeling of comfort in both sitting and lying positions.
Figure 2 shows a side view of the seat structure according to the invention, with the side wall of the support frame removed. The curved sidewalls 10a, b include end portions 11a, b protruding rearward beyond the seat frame. The end parts 11a, b are located between two end stops or surfaces 12, 13 which are below the backrest. The end stops 12, 13 limit the angle of the seat 4 as the sides rest on the upper end stop 12 in the horizontal position and on the lower end stop 13 when the seat is tilted down towards the rear. However, the seat 4 can also stop at intermediate positions between the end stops if this provides balance for the user.
Fig. 4 shows a front view of the folding seat 4. In the seat structure shown on the left, the seat 4 slopes downwards, while the seat in the structure shown on the right is horizontal. One or more balancing springs 14 are installed between the support frame and each of the side rails 10a, b or the rear cross member 9b. If the seat is not loaded or not loaded enough to change the balance, the balancing springs 14 press the seat 4, keeping it in a horizontal position. In this case, the horizontal position means the unloaded or passive position in which the seat is located if it is not occupied. It should be noted that in the passive position, the seat may also have a pre-set angle relative to the horizontal.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a balance spring 14 is provided under each side end portion 10a, b. The spring is mounted under the bottom end stop 13 and the side end portion, respectively. If the seat 4 is loaded, the part located behind is pressed and compresses the springs. Thus, the seat, with some resistance, will tilt downwards towards the backrest 3. The user will have the impression of being "immersed" in the seat, which will increase the feeling of relaxation and comfort. If the user wants to lie down (here we assume that the seat structure is used in a sofa consisting of several seats connected to each other in series), the weight distribution of the user on the seat 4 will change, i.e. the user's center of mass will be displaced such that the resistance of the balance springs 14 will press the seat 4 upward and restore a substantially horizontal multi-seat surface, thus providing a comfortable position for, for example, an afternoon nap.
Instead of angle balance springs as shown in the drawings, coil springs, leaf springs or elastic elements. You can also use one spring, located either in the middle of the rear cross member, or offset from the middle. Balancing springs can also be located in and/or in combination with the attachment device, for example in the form of torsion springs.
In another embodiment (not shown), the attachment mechanism includes one or more hinges mounted on the seat (on its underside), wherein said hinges are attached to a rod extending between the side members of the support frame.
As indicated above, the seat structure according to the invention can be used in several types of furniture. Figure 6 shows a sofa using the specified seat design. A folding part 16 is attached to the front part of the seat at the hinge points 17a, b. The opposite end of the folding part is also attached to the support frame 2 at the hinge points 18a, b of the attachment. When the seat 4 is tilted in one direction, the reclining portion 16 will tilt in the opposite direction, forming a kink in the surface of the seat and a bulge near the knees of the occupant of the sofa. If the user lies down on the sofa, the seat returns to a passive position, forming a rectilinear continuous surface suitable for one user to lie down, for several users to sit, or for users to partially support the sofa.
7 shows a sofa with the seat 4 in the second position, where the seat is tilted downwards towards the backrest 3. When the seat is tilted, the rear cross member 9b closest to the backrest 3 tilts downwards, while the front cross member 9a closest to the folding part 16, tilts up. Thus, the folding part 16 tilts upward near the seat 4 and rotates around the hinge devices 18a, b of the attachment, while the folding part 16 and the seat 4 form an angle greater than 0 degrees. Such a situation occurs, for example, when the user is seated leaning on the backrest 3.
Compared to the known solutions, the chaise longue or sofa according to the present invention differs in that the seat and the reclining part are connected at the hinge points 17a, b and, in addition, have independent hinged suspensions at opposite ends. Therefore, if the seat and recline tilt, the entire assembly must be sliding to allow for such tilting. Such extension is preferably provided at the hinge points 17a, b between the seat and the fold-down part. In the first embodiment, the hinges may be conventional two-piece hinges with tubular ends for installation in the seat frame and the corresponding frame in the hinged part. Each hinge can be attached with the first end to the frame and the other end to slide freely inside tubular frame. Both ends can also slide freely. Therefore, when the seat is tilted up, the frames at the hinge points move apart slightly to the sides.
However, it is preferable to implement each hinge point 17a, b in the form of an elastic hinge, shown in figa and 8b. It is a tubular body 19 made of elastic material. The hinge has a biconical or conical shape in the direction of both ends and contains an annular protrusion 20 in the middle. The hinge is preferably completely or partially covered by a wall 21 located in the middle of the inside of the tube. Such a hinge can be easily installed as it is inserted into the tubular ends of the frames. The hinge consists of only one element and has good wear resistance. In addition, it does not create a squeak during operation.
1. The structure (1) of the seat, including the support frame (2), the seat (4) and the backrest (3), while the seat (4) includes a seat frame formed by the sidewalls (9a, b), the front cross member (10a) and the rear cross member (10b) and is pivotally connected to the support frame (2) by means of at least one fastening mechanism (8a, b) located below the surface of the seat (4), wherein at least one balancing spring (14) is installed between the seat ( 4) and a support frame (2) containing the first and second side elements (2a, b), as well as the front and rear elements (2c, d) of the frame, characterized in that the fastening mechanisms (8a, b) are installed asymmetrically relative to the seat ( 4) in comparison with the central axis of the seat, in such a way that the axis of the hinge passes between the knees and hips of the user, who sits on the seat structure in a normal position, with his legs parallel and leaning back on the seatback, while the specified fastening mechanism (8a, b) located between the sidewalls (9a, b) of the seat (4) and the side elements (2a, b) of the support frame (2).
2. The design according to claim 1, characterized in that the said seat frame or its protruding part is located between at least one end stop (12, 13) of the support frame (2), while the specified end stop or stops (12, 13) limit the possible angle of rotation of the seat (4).
3. The design according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fastening mechanism is located approximately 1/3 of the distance from front element(2s).
4. Construction according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat (4) is made with the possibility of tilting down no more than 10 degrees and preferably 5 degrees from the horizontal line.
5. A couch including a seat structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4.
6. A sofa comprising a seat structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the folding part (16) is hinged at the first end with the seat (4) as its continuation, while the folding part is also hinged at the second end, opposite the specified first end, with a support frame.
7. Sofa according to claim 6, characterized in that the folding part is connected to the seat by means of elastic hinges (17a, b).
8. A chair comprising a seat structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4.
Similar patents:
The invention relates to furniture and ensures that the furniture for sitting and lying is simple, convenient and reliable in operation, with simple mechanism transformation that takes up little space and allows you to use the cavity of the box base as a box for bed linen.
As per measure
MANY regular seats are designed for a certain average buyer, so a set of their adjustments is only enough to ensure that a specific driver with individual features of the figure can more or less comfortably get behind the wheel (we do not take into account luxury cars with multifunctional seats). Meanwhile, it is enough to change the ideal fit by a couple of centimeters in one direction or another - and the intervertebral discs receive an additional load, the chest is “locked”, internal organs are squeezed. Diseases of the spine and digestive system are professional ailments of drivers. In Germany, there is even an organization AGR - "Aktion Gesunder Rucken" ("Movement for the health of the back"), which issues its own quality mark to the best examples of seats, including car seats.
Many motorists, changing regular seats for individual ones, experience about the same feeling as if, after ordinary boots, perhaps not bad ones, they are divided into uffs sewn according to their personal block. People who are accustomed to such seats literally "sit down" to the feeling of comfort. Car seat sellers claim that car owners often rearrange their favorite seat from old car into a new one, regardless of the price and brand of the cars themselves.
All non-standard seats for everyday driving can be divided into two large groups: “ergonomic” and sports. Also on sale there are highly specialized chairs: racing and commercial.
“Ergonomic”
“Ergonomic” premium seat with integrated side airbag.
IMMEDIATELY make a reservation - this term is somewhat arbitrary, because any high-quality chair, by definition, has good ergonomics. And here we are talking about seats that provide maximum comfort during long everyday trips.
The main advantage of such chairs is a very large set of adjustments that allow you to fit the seat as much as possible to the height and physique of the buyer. Actuators of adjustments can be both manual and electric. For example, consider the possibilities specific model, the complete set of which is close to the maximum. This seat has adjustable height and length of the sprung cushion, back angle, lateral back support, cervical support and lumbar support. Most drives are electric. In addition, the chair has a climate package, which includes ventilation of the seat cushion and backrest, as well as their heating. Moreover, the ventilation mode takes into account the characteristics of the body and does not blow into the lower back like a draft (which is sometimes the fault of regular ventilated seats even in luxury cars). Sometimes side airbags are built into personal seats. In simpler models, certain adjustments may be missing, or electric drives are replaced by manual settings. In any case, when buying, insist on a personal fitting. It may turn out that available model Personally, it will suit you better than a more expensive chair.
As for manufacturers, the Recaro company is a monopoly on the market for high-quality “ergonomic” seats. She is also a supplier for some well-known manufacturers.
Sports
Characteristic features of sports seats: an integrated headrest, developed lateral support for the shoulders and hips.
THIS TYPE of seat is addressed to drivers who prefer a dynamic, aggressive driving style. Such seats are usually installed in cars like Mitsubishi Lancer evolution" or " Subaru Impreza". They are equipped with pronounced lateral support for the shoulders and hips, often there are models with an integrated headrest and mounts under four-point harness security.
These seats are highly durable and light weight. Due to the tight riding position, they are not as comfortable as "ergonomic" ones, and are not very suitable for long-distance trips of many hours.
Racing
The racing seat is designed for racing and is not suitable for daily driving.
DESIGNED for participation in competitions and are installed on sports or "charged" cars. Often, the instructions for the seats indicate their purpose: for example, rally or circuit racing. The main advantage of these chairs is very high strength combined with low weight (about seven kilograms). In their production, fiberglass, various types of plastic, as well as carbon materials (for example, carbon fiber) are widely used.
Due to the characteristic shape, such seats are often called "bucket". Landing in them is far from comfortable, if we talk about everyday trips, but it is optimal for racing. We do not recommend buying racing seats, as they say, for every day just for the sake of prestige and the “combat” image of the car. Among the features of such models, we emphasize the highly developed lateral support (you have to literally squeeze into the seat), mounts for 4-, 5 or 6-point sports belts safety, as well as non-slip upholstery.
Commercial
MAINLY similar seats are equipped with buses and trucks. They got into our review later because they are sometimes installed on large minivans. The peculiarity of these models lies in the fact that their design forms a direct high landing for the driver, providing a good forward view.
Note that it is these seats that are subject to the most stringent requirements for comfort on long trips, since they, in fact, are the driver's workplace. Therefore, in terms of adjustment possibilities, the top models of this family practically do not differ from the seats of the “ergonomic” category. The buyer is offered almost all options, including ventilation.
Commercial chairs are different maximum comfort because the driver spends long hours in them.
Expert opinion
– HOW TO CHOOSE the most suitable seat for you? I would advise you to take turns sitting in all the chairs offered, closing your eyes and relying only on tactile sensations. It is much easier to feel “your” seat in this way,” says Andrey Ivanov, head of the department at Active-pro. - Moreover, it is advisable to stay in each seat for about 20 minutes, trying to get settled in the way you used to sit behind the wheel. Of course, you can spend a whole day on this, but there is no better way to choose a chair. In any case, follow the basic principle: listen to your body, and do not be tempted by the attractive shape and beautiful upholstery of the seat.
I also recommend that you treat with some doubt inexpensive models. Small firms often copy appearance armchairs of eminent brands, without paying special attention to the design. Meanwhile, due to the irregular shape of the frame, the “fifth point” of the driver can, for example, slide to the middle of the cushion, instead of tending, as required, to the angle between the cushion and the backrest. The result is an unnatural deflection in the lumbar region, and as a result, after a while, severe back pain may occur.
Very important point- Seat safety. The modern seat has a very complex structure with a metal frame. In an accident, it should provide your body with an optimal position, preventing it from slipping out from under the belts, and in the event of a rear impact, it should correctly distribute the load on the spine. The cost of creating a new seat design can reach tens of millions of dollars. Suffice it to say that only two reputable companies specialize in their development. Buying inexpensive seats from homegrown "tuning" firms (which are often found on automotive markets), you are seriously risking your health, and even life.
Any non-standard seat must be accompanied by a certificate confirming that it complies with all necessary standards. You must have it with you when passing the technical inspection, and this document will not hurt on everyday trips - in order to avoid unnecessary questions from the traffic police inspectors.
When traveling by car, the most attention is paid to the seats and interior trim. The comfort, cosiness and convenience that we will feel during the trip depends on their quality. Other functions are also assigned to the seat: it must provide secure fixation driver, as well as allow you to endure long trips without fatigue. A long way of changes and upgrades had to go through car seats before becoming what we are used to seeing them.
History of car seats.
The first seats were very soft and were simple lush sofas. Depending on the configuration, as well as on the type of car, they could differ in terms of comfort. For the first time, brown and black colors prevailed, with rare exceptions, one could also find a variant with colored fabric inserts. At that time, they didn’t even think about the ergonomics of the seats, sofa seats were sometimes surrounded by a soft coating on the sidewalls of the body, which could make it feel like you were in a room at home. To some extent, this contributed to safety, but the speeds at that time were small.
A little later, separate seats (English - Bucket seat) came into automotive fashion, they were increasingly installed in front. Although, in the US, some cars are still equipped with “sofa seats” (eng. - Bench seat). Both of these varieties have their pros and cons. For example, a wide sofa seat can accommodate 3 people, but more comfort and better ergonomics are inherent in separate seats. Such a widespread use of the "Bench seat" among American cars was influenced by the widespread use automatic boxes shifting gears, while in Europe they used mechanical gears more often. Since the handle of the “machine” was located near the steering wheel, the legroom for the passenger sitting in the center was freed up.
Sports cars are always equipped with separate seats, because only they can provide a reliable fixation of the driver during accelerated movement and in sharp turns. No movement relative to the seat is allowed, the rider must "merge" with the car, feel one with the car, that's why Special attention given to the design of sports seats.
At the present time, the dimensions of sports seats are precisely adjusted to the human body, the seats are very rigid, they should not sag. The material provides fixation, and the shape of the bucket - natural ventilation.
The rear seats for many years were sofas, only at the end of the 20th century, the designers began to refine them. Considerable work has been done to ensure the comfort of each passenger, even if the seat looks like a single unit, additional adjustment and transformation is sometimes possible. This innovation also has its drawbacks: when landing three people, the average passenger will experience discomfort, since his seat will be located on a hill, or even on a retracted armrest.
Seats of modern cars.
On modern cars, the seats have a complex structure. Based on a metal frame, foam rubber and others synthetic materials for pillows; fabrics, leather or other synthetics are used for sheathing. Various additional devices are built into the seats: systems of rods and levers, sometimes electric drives (to adjust positions), heating, ventilation, and even airbags.
Leatherette, various synthetic fabrics, leather can be used as materials for seat coverings. Seat covers must be resistant to temperature extremes, easy to clean or dry-clean, and durable. As a rule, in ordinary production cars cheap fabric coverings and leatherettes are used, gray-black colors. Recently, there has been a trend to lighten the seats: you can increasingly see white trim. Light leather cover is considered the most an expensive option as for practicality, contrary to common time, such seats do not get very dirty and are easy to clean.
Much less common are colorful and multi-colored seats. Of course, with the help of tuning you can get any unimaginable color combination. Such modernization can speak of great artistic talent or simple bad taste.
Comfort devices.
Today it is impossible to imagine a seat in which there are no adjustments and transformation options. Even in the cheapest car, the possibility of adjusting the front seats in the back / forward direction, in height, inclination of the backrest, and changing the position of the head restraints is necessarily provided. The rear seats can be folded down to increase trunk space.
In premium cars, the seats are simply "stuffed" with additional adjustments that are controlled by electric drives. The set positions can be saved so that each driver has their own settings. An indicator of the prestige of a car is measured by the variety and vastness of all kinds of settings, although not all of them are really necessary and in demand.
Seats are often equipped with heating, which is a simple device powered by the on-board electrical system. For the first time, heated seats appeared in 1966 on Cadillac cars. Occasionally, you can also find ventilation, which was first used on Saab in 1997.
The prevailing number of cars have seats (both rear and front) with armrests, which are located in the center of the cabin. The armrest can be retracted or folded away, freeing up some space, for example, for glasses or bottles. Large cars are equipped with additional armrests on the sides along the doors.
Transformation options.
The current standard calls for a 2/3 folding rear seat. But besides this, there are additional opportunities for changing the interior of the car. Usually, you can completely remove backseat, but how difficult it is to do this depends on the manufacturer. The front seatbacks can be folded back or forward, and some vehicles have the ability to rotate the front seats 180 degrees. Most transformation options in minivans. The salon can be very quickly converted from a regular (passenger) to a cargo one, into a place for lunch, for relaxation, etc. Unfortunately, some automotive manufacturers do not indulge drivers with such versatility and firmly attach the seats to the floor.
Truck seats.
A truck is a fairly utilitarian representative of the automotive industry. Therefore, his seats for a long time were simple and unpretentious, but practical and reliable. Only recently have trucks begun to approach passenger cars in terms of comfort. Mainline tractors are considered the most comfortable - their large cabins are designed for a long stay of the driver without rest on long flights.
The same situation is with the seats of tractors and other special equipment. Almost all cars are equipped with cheap “seats” with primitive backs, only the latest models have sufficiently ergonomic and highly comfortable seats. Of course, you might think that in CX technology you can get by with the simplest interior arrangement, but as you know, performance depends on the morale of a person, in particular an operator or driver, and what kind of morale can we talk about if a frail stool is installed instead of a normal seat.
Bus seats:
Bus seats are divided into passenger and driver. Fundamental differences between driver's seat by bus and passenger car mobile no, so let's talk about passenger.
Urban.
On city buses, the seats are extremely simple. Modern seats consist of a plastic frame covered with a decorative fabric, although earlier they did not differ much from ordinary ones with a foam rubber coating. Plastic is a practical material and vandal-resistant. The interior device allows you to move groups of seats to the desired positions, obtaining the necessary configuration of space.
Intercity and tourist.
Such buses specialize in long trips, sometimes for a day or even more. Regardless of the comfort of the seats, staying in them for such a long time cannot be called comfortable. But even despite all the overall limitations of the bus cabin, designers are constantly improving the seats, bringing new and fresh ideas.
The seats of the international bus are very soft, covered with a fabric that is pleasant to the touch, equipped with a backrest tilt regulator and armrests, sometimes there are also built-in folding tables.
Seats of military equipment.
Probably the simplest and cheapest, but at the same time very reliable seats. Maximum utility - that's them main characteristic. The first versions of military seats could be a wooden bench, and nothing, it was quite possible to live in such conditions. Modern seats are equipped with a life support function, as well as ensuring safety in case of fragmentation and bullet damage to the car and explosions.
Motorcycle seats.
The seats on motorcycles delight with their vagueness, they are both primitive and often beautiful, as well as diverse. The first motorcycle seats (on motorcycles “Ural”, “Dnepr”) were similar to bicycle ones. Therefore, the passenger and driver seats are separate. Later, many motorcycles began to make monolithic seats, with leather upholstery and soft filler. On sportbikes, the seats are also separate, and are located at different levels. Such seats take into account the physical characteristics and position of the driver and passenger.
Regardless of how perfect the car's security system is, any motorist should have a first aid kit with him. The first aid kit includes various medicines, as well as bandages. You can buy bleached gauze for the first aid kit here.
car seat
TO Category:
Interior finishing materials
car seat
Seats are the main objects of car upholstery. They serve to comfortably place passengers and the driver in a position that is less tiring during long journeys in the car, as well as to protect passengers and the driver from injury in traffic accidents.
In passenger cars, the front seats have a solid base that can withstand the load of the driver's body. The seat cushion and backrest are one piece. The backrest is pivotally connected to the seat cushion, which makes it possible to tilt it. The rear seats usually consist of two separate parts (backrest and cushions) that are not structurally rigid enough to withstand the weight of the passengers. The seat bases are integral part body.
Light duty vehicle cabs have two seats, one for the driver and one for the passenger.
Just like the front seats of passenger cars, they have a solid base. In car cabs heavy duty intended for the carriage of goods on long distance, there are two front and one or two rear seats. If the engine is located along the entire length of the cab, then the rear seat is divided. With a short or advanced engine, a one-piece rear seat is installed across the entire width of the cab. The extended back seat is also used for sleeping. Often the seat back is installed lifting, as a result of which you can get a second bed.
In buses, the design of the driver's seat is similar to that of the driver's seat of a truck. However, the design of the passenger seat is completely different. These seats have a strong frame, and the backrests are rigid or articulated.
A common feature of the design of the driver's seat of all types of cars is the ability to change the position relative to the steering wheel and control pedals. In passenger cars, these seats can be moved horizontally forward and backward. In trucks, vertical adjustment is also used (the seats are raised or lowered depending on the height of the driver).
Rice. 1. Front reclining seat of a luxury car
The design of the seat frames, their spring elements, softening materials, upholstery and equipment depend on the class of the car and its purpose. The seats are divided into: for luxury cars, popular cars, trucks, buses, special vehicles.
Luxury car seats. In these cars, the front seats are usually made as separate seats. This makes it possible to create a comfortable seat that is adapted to the structure of the human body and gently supports the back of the driver. With this design, the back of the driver's seat can be tilted regardless of the position of the back of the passenger's seat (Fig. 1). If the backrest is set in a horizontal position, then a berth is created. The presence of a seat with a folding back, in addition to convenience while driving, provides conditions for sleeping in the car.
The front seats of the sofa design are much less common (Fig. 2). Such seats are provided in American cars, since large families typical of the United States use multi-seater cars, and three people can be put on a seat of a sofa design. However, with front seats of this design, it is difficult to place the gear lever in the floor of the body. In this case, the lever must be long and far from the driver's hand, which makes it difficult to control. The handbrake lever with this seat cannot be placed on the floor. Therefore, in cars with front seats of a sofa design, the gear lever is located under the steering wheel, and the hand brake lever is mounted on the front shield. The front sofa seats have an undivided back (Fig. 2, a) non-folding, since with a large length it cannot have sufficient rigidity. The mechanism for changing the position of the backrest must be of solid construction, and the movement of the backrest large sizes necessitates a lot of effort. Adjusting the position of the back, even with the slightest malfunction of the adjustment mechanism, causes additional difficulties.
Rice. 2. Front seats of sofa type; a - with a non-folding undivided back; b - divided backs and middle armrest
The front seat of a sofa design with a divided back is shown in fig. 2b. Both parts of the backrest have separate adjustment mechanisms, which allows you to get a different inclination of the backrests of the driver's and passenger's seats.
The seats of expensive cars are characterized by a large thickness of the back and cushion, as well as the presence of elastic springs, which have a large amplitude of oscillation during movement. The spring elements of the seat dampen the shocks transmitted by the car's suspension, and the thick soft pad dampens any vibrations of the springs. The seats of the latest models of high-end cars are equipped with head restraints, which largely protect the driver and passenger from spinal injury during a strong impact in back car. With such a blow, the head leans back sharply, damage to the cervical vertebrae occurs, which can lead to death. Impacts to the front of the car are also unsafe, in which hard braking the driver's head tilts forward and then leans back, which can also cause damage to the cervical vertebrae. The headrest of the seat back serves to support the head of the passenger, its use facilitates travel conditions.
Rice. 3. Front seats with permanent headrest and extended backrests
Depending on the design, head restraints are permanent and removable. The permanent headrest is an integral part of the seatback (Fig. 3). The back at the same time is significantly elongated upwards, somewhat narrowed and, accordingly, arched. The narrowing of the seat at the top is necessary to allow the driver to see the road behind the car using the rear-view mirror. The increased clearance between the upper parts of the backrests also allows rear seat passengers to see the road in front of the car. Due to the deterioration in visibility, seats with an extended backrest are more often used in two-seat cars in which the rear seat is missing or small, and therefore uncomfortable and rarely used. If the extended backrest is foldable, then it cannot be used for the device bed due to the small distance between the front and rear seats. An important advantage of the extended backrest is that it protects the passenger's head from damage in a traffic accident in which the car rolls onto the roof. The strong backrest frame prevents the entire roof from being crushed, leaving room for the driver and passenger under the roof. The disadvantage of seats with a permanent headrest is the significant rigidity of the headrest and the impossibility of using it in various head positions.
Rice. 4. Front seats with retractable headrests
Retractable headrests can complete the top edge of the seatback (fig. 4). These headrests can be adjusted to the height of the passenger and tilted at a slight angle for greater comfort. When the headrest is raised, a depression is formed, which does not create inconvenience. Typically, head restraints are placed in guides (Fig. 5) hidden in the seat backs. Such headrests are a soft pillow, which is movably fixed in the guides. The mobility of the headrest provides a comfortable and secure head support, regardless of the height of the passenger and the angle of the seat. The guides have locks with which the head restraint is held on required level. By removing the headrest, you can set the backrest to a horizontal position for a sleeper. The reason for the widespread use of this design of the headrest is its versatility (the seat can be used with or without a headrest), the shape of the backrest remains almost unchanged.
The comfort of the seat depends on the external shape of the seat cushion and backrest. The seats of old-fashioned cars could not be comfortable in terms of the upholstery materials used at that time (natural hair, sea grass, bristles, etc.). The seats had convex shapes, they were quilted with rolls or crosswise. The seats of this type of Ford T car are shown in fig. 6. Seat upholstery is similar to furniture upholstery. The use of new upholstery materials, especially molded rubberized coir, latex foam or polyurethane, has changed the design of the seats, which can now be shaped very close to the shape of the human body. An example of seat designs with pronounced concave shapes are bucket or semi-bucket seats (Fig. 7). Bucket seats keep the driver in tight corners and are therefore used in sports and touring sports cars. However, it is difficult to sit in such a seat, and great dexterity is required.
The back seats of expensive cars usually have a sofa design. Sometimes there are chair-type rear seats (Fig. 8), very comfortable, with a wide armrest between the seats, creating a feeling of comfort and safety. Sophisticated sofa-type rear seat shapes are available for travel comfort (fig. 9). This concave shape of the seat was only possible as a result of the use of a molded cushioning material. The rear seats of modern expensive cars are equipped with head restraints, which, even with such comfortable seats further improve driving comfort and safety. The following upholstery materials are used in the seats of expensive cars: natural leather, woolen fabrics, special fabrics made from artificial fibers, artificial leather called "areoskey", ordinary artificial leather, as well as these materials in various combinations.
Rice. 6. Seats modeled after upholstered furniture in a Ford T
Rice. 7. Half-bucket seats sports car
Rice. 8. Luxury car seat
Seats of cars in demand. In such cars, more and more often there are seats, the design of which is close to the design of the seats of expensive cars. A slight difference lies in the fact that harder direct springs are used, which are less deflected by the bumps of the car, and the shock-absorbing layer is thinner. The backs of the front seats are rigidly connected to the pillows, and only best models This class has a significantly simplified backrest tilt mechanism, which allows you to change the backrest tilt only when stationary or with the seat previously pushed forward.
Rice. 9. Exquisitely shaped sofa-type rear seat
Rice. 10. The front seat of an inexpensive car
Rice. 11. The seats of the car type jeep "Land"
Less expensive cars in this class have significantly simplified seat designs, the springs of which are replaced by rubber belts covered with a thin layer of cushioning material. In these seats, the driver and passengers feel the frame, despite the presence of a layer of shock-absorbing material and additional coverage of the edges of the seat cushion and backrest. A passenger with a large mass, sinking deeper into the seat, feels an unpleasant pressure on the seat frame when the car is moving. The seats of inexpensive cars do not have springs or rubber belts. The frame of such a seat is covered with a fabric with a sewn-in softening layer. This cover is fastened or laced up. The only springy element of such a seat is the elastic fabric of the cover.
Also, the hard seat with upholstery, which is used in jeep-type cars, is not very convenient. The seat consists of a plate made of plywood or hard felt, covered on top with a softening material and covered with facing material. These seat and back cushions are screwed to the respective frame supports. The use of convex seats with a smooth surface covered with leatherette or artificial leather ensures good drainage of rainwater, which is important, since these cars are operated and stored without an awning or other cover. Jeep-type cars can have rear seats in the form of an ordinary wooden bench with an extra seat. We will not consider such seats in the future, since their manufacture is not of interest for upholstery production.
Rice. 12. Removable front seat headrest
Rice. 13. Interior view of the cab of a delivery vehicle
The seats of popular cars are usually not equipped with head restraint rails, so the car owner, who cares about the convenience and safety of driving, is forced to install a removable head restraint. Such a headrest has a holder enclosing the upper part of the backrest and a fixed or reclining cushion, like headrests, which are mounted in rails. Car seat covers mass production are made from cheaper materials: artificial leather, leatherette, vinider matin, as well as cotton fabric.
Truck seats. Light-duty vehicles such as a pickup truck or delivery vehicles are designed using components from other passenger cars. Therefore, they have similar internal equipment. The front seats are the same as those of the base car. Sometimes an extra seat is added to increase the number of seats for passengers. The seat is made of a plate covered with shock-absorbing material and upholstered. It is fastened with screws to the tubular frame.
In medium and heavy vehicles, two seats of similar design are installed (for the driver and passenger). The driver's seat has an adjustment mechanism to ensure comfortable fit driver. Such a mechanism is necessary, since the truck driver spends long hours behind the wheel. Therefore, the main goal of seat designers should be to provide a good working environment for the driver without causing unnecessary fatigue. To do this, the seat must have mechanisms for moving the seat forward and backward, raising and lowering the seat, and adjusting the angle of the backrest.
Due to the large difference in the mass of a loaded and unladen vehicle, the suspension of trucks is stiffer than the suspension of passenger cars. Therefore, a soft seat cushion with springs and thick upholstery complements the spring suspension and facilitates long driving car.
Truck seats must be well ventilated to prevent rheumatic and skin diseases of the driver as a result of sweating. To improve ventilation, the backs of the seats of some trucks are openwork, that is, they have through holes.
Truck seats have the strong and rigid construction needed to ensure their longevity. Trucks during operation make several times more mileage than average cars. When using the controls of trucks (pedals, steering wheel, lever brake lever), considerable effort is required, so the seat structure must be strong and rigid.
Seat designs designed for passengers do not need a mechanism for adjustment. However, such seats can be equipped with additional devices such as a headrest and armrests. Samples of seats for the driver and passengers of trucks are shown in fig. 14.
Heavy-duty vehicles designed to deliver goods over long distances have rear seats adapted to convert them into bed. Mattresses are provided, which are placed on a tubular frame with a mesh (Fig. 15), or special seat, the back of which can be folded back and get a second bed (Fig. 16).
Additional seats in small trucks are made in the form of a cushion on a plywood base or in the form of a separate cushion located on a metal seat, which is part of the car cabin structure. These cushions do not have springs, they are filled with shock-absorbing material such as sponge rubber or foam material.
Bus seats. The design of the bus driver's seat is similar to that of the truck driver's seat. Passenger seats have a frame structure. According to the operating conditions and the composition caused by them internal equipment interior and seat designs distinguish between city, suburban and intercity buses.
Rice. 14. Seat for heavy vehicles
City buses are designed to carry passengers over short distances, mainly a few kilometers, but not more than twenty. The duration of the trip is not more than a few tens of minutes. The seats in these buses (Fig. 17) may have a simplified design. A plywood shield is attached to the tubular base, covered with a soft material (mainly peyoplast) and upholstered in leatherette or artificial leather. The back is usually made in the form of a cover filled with foam and stretched over the frame. These backs are soft and bend well when leaning on them. Such city bus seats are not comfortable enough, but the small thickness of the backrest and a fairly free arrangement make it easy to replace them. There are few seats in city buses, they are single or double, and only the back seat is multi-seat.
Suburban buses are designed to carry passengers over medium distances from 10 to 100 km. The trip in such buses lasts up to 3 hours, so the seats should be more comfortable (Fig. 18). The seat back, as in city buses, consists of a frame, foam and upholstery, but the foam layer is thickened, and the back can be quilted with rollers.
Seat cushions have soft springs and smooth upholstery (Fig. 18, a) or striped quilted. Seat cushions upholstered in striped quilting are softer and more comfortable. Suburban buses to increase the number of seats are sometimes equipped with additional folding seats (Fig. 18, b). The folding seat has a special hinged bracket, with which the pillow is folded towards the permanent seat. Such a device prevents the cushion from being soiled or damaged by passengers passing through the passenger compartment of the bus. A thin reclining seat cushion does not have springs, so it is less comfortable than a fixed seat cushion. The back of the folding seat is a belt suspended between the backs of adjacent fixed seats.
Rice. 15. Rear seats of a truck having a tubular frame with a mesh and a mattress
Rice. Fig. 16. The rear seat of a heavy vehicle and the layout of the seat: a - a folded seat that can accommodate four people in a sitting position; b - a seat in the unfolded form, providing two berths; c - seat folding diagram
Rice. 17. Interior of the city bus
Intercity sightseeing buses are equipped with comfortable single seats. These seats are called "aviation seats" because their design is close to that of the seats used in airplanes. "Aviation" seats of buses (Fig. 19), in contrast to those described above, have high backs with a soft pillow in the upper part, ending above the passenger's head. This pillow sometimes has a complex profile and a comfortable depression in the middle. To ensure hygiene conditions, a white cover is provided on the upper part of the back, which can be easily removed for washing or replacement, the back can be tilted to provide the passenger with a reclining position. Further inclination is not possible, as the backrest will interfere with the passenger sitting behind. Therefore, the seats are spaced one from the other at a distance less than the length of the back. The inclination of the seat is adjusted by a lever with a ball head located inside the armrest. Cushions and backs have springs and a thick layer of upholstery.
Rice. 18. Interior of a suburban bus: a - without additional seats; b = with additional folding seats
Rice. 19. Bus interior with "aviation" seats: a - rear view; b - front view
On the back side of the back there is a mesh or a pocket for newspapers and magazines, a table, a basket for glasses or bottles, an ashtray, a handrail to facilitate lifting from a chair, a leg support with the backrest reclined. It is not necessary to use all of the devices mentioned in every case. different buses have different sets of such equipment. In buses with aircraft seats, additional folding seats are not suitable, since this cannot be done with the existing aisle width. Also, the booster seat cannot provide the same comfort as the fixed seat.
For the upholstery of the seats of city and suburban buses, leatherette or artificial leather is usually used. The seats of long-distance buses mainly have a combined covering of cotton fabric in combination with leatherette or artificial leather.
Seats of special cars. Seats for doctors and nurses in cars Ambulance”(Fig. 20) should provide the possibility of providing assistance to the patient and performing simple procedures. Seat upholstery should be made of easily washable and easily disinfected materials.
In a school van (Figure 21), which takes children to school over relatively short distances, the seats should be simple, easy to clean and hard to damage materials. To transport children over long distances, removable seats are used, specially designed for this purpose. Such seats (fig. 22) can be placed in the direction of travel and against and have locks to hold the child or safety harnesses. Seats for children are made in the usual way or molded from plastics.
Rice. 20. Interior view of an ambulance with seats for a doctor and an orderly
Rice. 21. Salon of a school minibus
Rice. 22. The design of the seats of a school minibus: a - a soft seat that protects the child from falling out; b - a hard plastic seat with a softening lining; c - hard seat
Typically, the seats in a four-door car body are arranged in two rows. In a GAZ-24 Volga passenger car, separate front row seats (Fig. 169, a) have separate cushion and back adjustment. The seat cushion can be moved in the longitudinal direction, and the backrest can be tilted.
The solid rear seat is designed for three people: when landing two passengers, you can extend the soft armrest. If necessary, the seats can be converted into sleeping places. To do this, by turning the handle, tilt the backs of the front seats. When landing on the front seat of two people, a middle armrest is installed between them, hinged to the back of the right seat. In the case of landing on the front seat of a third person, the armrest serves as a continuation of the backrest, and a soft insert is installed between the seats.
Springs are installed in the seats and backs of cars or they are filled with sponge rubber to absorb shocks and shocks received by the driver and passengers when driving on rough roads. The seats and backs are upholstered in soft fabric.
The cab of the GAZ-53A truck has a common seat for the driver and passenger. It consists of a block made of sponge rubber and a spring. The cab of the ZIL-130 truck has adjustable seat driver and double seat for passengers.
Rice. 23. Car seats: a - the front seat of a GAZ-24 Volga car; 6 - seat of a GAZ-53A car; 1 - backrest tilt handle; 2 - synchronizing roller; 3 and 5 - longitudinal adjustment slide; 4 - lever for longitudinal adjustment; 6 - upholstery top; 7 - back padded jacket; 8 - reinforced canvas; 9 and 15 - spring insertion profiles; 10 - back spring; 11 - spring fastening bracket; 12 - back frame; 13 - wire frame; 14 - upholstery fastening bar; 16 and 18 - back support brackets; 17- adjusting bolts; 19 - lining of the seat cushion stop; 20 - thrust; 21 - pillow mounting bracket; 22 - seat cushion frame; 23 - cardboard lining; 24 - block of sponge rubber; 25 - batting; 26 - rubber bushing
IN modern car the seat is quite complex technical system. Everything is done in order to ensure comfort and safety for passengers and the driver, without increasing the cost of the structure. The shape of the seat elements and the materials from which these elements are made may vary. At the same time, the design scheme has not changed for the last 20-30 years.
A car seat consists of several basic elements: a frame, flat springs and cushions made of porous material. Foam rubber is usually used as a filler for pillows, although more modern solution is the use of porous rubber. The frame is often made from steel pipes, but options are also possible here (fiberglass, aluminum, etc.). Consider the main directions for improving the design of car seats.
Innovation
It turns out that flat steel springs can be replaced with elastic bands. In this case, we get a smaller load on the porous material. Tapes that replace springs are made of special rubber or rubber fabric. The second option, by the way, is the most modern. The base of the seat can generally be made rigid by installing a pressed steel frame underneath. But in a passenger car, such a seat must necessarily be sprung, that is, installed on springs.
The use of porous rubber allows you to make a seat cushion that will be based on steel bars, and not on elastic elements. Such a seat does not creak, and the whole structure is very durable. Nevertheless, foam rubber remains the most accessible material, so most manufacturers continue to use it.
Development prospects
It is possible that in the future there will be "smart" seats, the shape of which will adapt to the figure of the passenger. But the creation of such seats does not involve the use of hundreds mechanical parts and dozens of adjustable elements. Mainly, the design possibilities will be based on the use of “pneumatic pockets”: a cavity equipped with a frame can be filled with air under pressure.
