Support structure for a back part and/or a seat of a seat assembly and seat assembly comprising such a support structure

Abstract

A support structure for a back part and/or a seat of a seat assembly includes a base support, a support part, and a power system. The support part is arranged on the base support to support and/or hold the respective back part and/or seat, and is attached to the base support to allow movement of the support part relative to the base support. The power system, which includes first and second spring elements and a coupling device, generates a reset force in response to (and directed opposite to) the respective movement of the support part. When the coupling device is in a first state, the second spring element generates a second reset force directed opposite to the movement of the support part. When the coupling device is in the second state, the second spring element does not generate the second reset force.

1 . A support structure for a back part and/or a seat of a seat assembly, comprising:
 a base support;   a support part arranged on the base support and configured to support and/or hold the respective back part and/or the respective seat, said support part being attached to the base support to allow relative movement of the support part relative to the base support;   a power system configured to generate a reset force in response to the respective movement of the support part, wherein the reset force is directed opposite to the movement, wherein the power system comprises
 a first spring element coupled to the base support and to the support part, wherein, in response to the respective movement of the support part, the first spring element is configured to generate a first reset force directed opposite to the respective movement of the support part; 
 a second spring element; and 
 a coupling device configured to couple the respective second spring element to the base support and/or to the support part, wherein the coupling device is configured to be brought either into the first or into a second state, 
   wherein, in the event that the coupling device is in the first state, the respective second spring element is coupled to the base support and to the support part, whereby, in response to the respective movement of the support part, the respective second spring element generates a second reset force directed opposite to the respective movement of the support part, and
 wherein, in the event that the coupling device is in the second state, the respective second spring element is not coupled to the base support and/or to the support part, whereby the respective second spring element does not generate a second reset force directed opposite to the respective movement of the support part. 
   
     
     
         2 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control device configured to adjust the respective state of the respective coupling device, whereby the respective coupling device is brought either into the first or into the second state. 
     
     
         3 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of the second spring elements and a plurality of the coupling devices, wherein the plurality of coupling devices are configured to be brought into the first or into the second state independent from one another. 
     
     
         4 . The support structure according to  claim 3 , wherein all of the plurality of coupling devices are in the second state so that none of the second spring elements are coupled to the base support and to the support part. 
     
     
         5 . The support structure according to  claim 3 , wherein one of the plurality of coupling devices is in the second state so that a corresponding one of the second spring elements is coupled to the base support and to the support part. 
     
     
         6 . The support structure according to  claim 3 , wherein at least two of the plurality of coupling devices are in the second state so that at least two of the second spring elements are coupled to the base support and to the support part. 
     
     
         7 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the second spring element comprises a first section and a second section configured to be moved relative to one another to generate the respective reset force, and wherein the coupling device comprises:
 first holding means for holding the first section of the respective second spring element, said first holding means connected to the base support and configured to interact with the first section of the respective second spring element, whereby, when the coupling device is brought into the first state, the first section of the respective second spring element is held in a predetermined position relative to the base support; and   second holding means for holding the second section of the respective second spring element, said second holding means connected to the support part and configured to interact with the second section of the respective second spring element, whereby, when the coupling device is brought into the first state, the second section of the respective second spring element is held in a predetermined position relative to the support part.   
     
     
         8 . The support structure according to  claim 7 , wherein, when the coupling device is brought into the second state, the first holding means is detached from the first section of the respective second spring element in response to the respective movement of the support part. 
     
     
         9 . The support structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the first holding means is moveable between at least two different positions, wherein, in one of the positions, the first holding means is in contact with the first section of the respective second spring element such that the first section is held in the predetermined position relative to the base support, and, in the other one of the positions, the first holding means is separated from the first section of the respective second spring element. 
     
     
         10 . The support structure according to  claim 9 , further comprising actuating means for moving the respective first holding means from one of the positions into the other one of the positions. 
     
     
         11 . The support structure according to  claim 10 , wherein the actuating means comprises a rotatable cam shaft including at least one cam assigned to the respective first holding means, wherein the respective first holding means are moveable by the respective assigned cam in response to a rotation of the cam shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The support structure according to  claim 7 , wherein, when the coupling device is brought into the second state, the second holding means is detached from the second section of the respective second spring element in response to the respective movement of the support part. 
     
     
         13 . The support structure according to  claim 12 , wherein the second holding means is movable between at least two different positions, wherein, in one of the positions, the second holding means is in contact with the second section of the respective second spring element such that the second section is held in the predetermined position relative to the support part, and, in the other one of the positions, the second holding means is separated from the second section of the respective second spring element. 
     
     
         14 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective first spring element comprises an elastomer torsion spring element including an inner housing, an outer housing surrounding the inner housing, and an elastomer body arranged in a space between the inner housing and the outer housing,
 wherein said inner housing comprises at least one contact surface in contact with, and fixedly connected to, the elastomer body,   wherein said outer housing comprises at least one contact surface in contact with, and fixedly connected to, the elastomer body,   wherein at least one of the inner housing and the outer housing is arranged so as to be rotatable relative to the other about an axis of rotation,   wherein the elastomer torsion spring element is coupled to the base support and to the support part such that respective movement of the support part causes a rotation of the inner housing and/or of the outer housing about the axis of rotation, whereby relative rotation between the inner housing and the outer housing generates a deformation of the elastomer body, which deformation generates a reset torque between the inner and outer housings, said reset torque being directed opposite to the rotation.   
     
     
         15 . The support structure according to  claim 14 , wherein the support part is attached to a bearing shaft supported on the base support, whereby the support part is pivotable about a pivot axis,
 wherein one of the inner and outer housings is rigidly connected to the base support, and   wherein the other of the inner and outer housings is rigidly connected to the support part or to the bearing shaft.   
     
     
         16 . The support structure according to  claim 14 , wherein the contact surface of at least one of the inner and outer housings comprises a non-circular cross section in a sectional plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         17 . The support structure according to  claim 14 , further comprising a holding element arranged on the respective elastomer torsion spring element,
 wherein the holding element is configured to hold the inner housing of the elastomer torsion spring element in a predetermined basic position relative to the outer housing of the elastomer torsion spring element, wherein the elastomer body comprises a predetermined elastic deformation in said basic position and generates a reset torque between the outer housing and the inner housing having a predetermined minimum value, and   wherein the holding element is configured to release a rotation of the inner housing relative to the outer housing about an angle of rotation about the axis of rotation in a direction of rotation, the reset torque increasing as the angle of rotation increases.   
     
     
         18 . The support structure according to  claim 17 , wherein the holding element includes at least one clamping element comprising
 a first section fixedly engaged with one of the inner and outer housings; and   a second section striking against a section of the other of the inner and outer housings when the inner housing is in the predetermined basic position relative to the outer housing, wherein the clamping element allows relative rotation between the inner and outer housings about the axis of rotation in the direction of rotation, whereby the reset torque increases.   
     
     
         19 . The support structure according to  claim 18 , wherein the inner housing comprises a recess and the first section of the clamping element is inserted into the recess in the inner housing in a torsionally rigid manner, and wherein, when the inner housing is in the predetermined basic position relative to the outer housing, the second section of the clamping element strikes against a section of the outer housing. 
     
     
         20 . The support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective second spring element is an elastomer torsion spring element including an inner housing, an outer housing surrounding the inner housing, and an elastomer body arranged in a space between the inner housing and the outer housing,
 wherein said inner housing comprises at least one contact surface in contact with, and fixedly connected to, the elastomer body,   wherein said outer housing comprises at least one contact surface in contact with, and fixedly connected to, the elastomer body,   wherein at least one of the inner housing and the outer housing is arranged so as to be rotatable relative to the other about an axis of rotation,   wherein, when the coupling device is brought into the first state, the elastomer torsion spring element is coupled to the base support and to the support part such that respective movement of the support part causes a rotation of the inner housing and/or of the outer housing about the axis of rotation, whereby relative rotation between the inner housing and the outer housing generates a deformation of the elastomer body, which deformation generates a reset torque between the inner and outer housings, said reset torque being directed opposite to the rotation.   
     
     
         21 . The support structure according to  claim 20 , wherein the support part is attached to a bearing shaft supported on the base support, whereby the support part is pivotable about a pivot axis, and wherein, when the coupling device is brought into the first state, one of the inner and outer housings is rigidly connected to the base support, and the other of the inner and outer housings is rigidly connected to the support part or to the bearing shaft. 
     
     
         22 . The support structure according to  claim 20 , wherein the contact surface of at least one of the inner and outer housings comprises a non-circular cross section in a sectional plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         23 . The support structure according to  claim 20 , further comprising a holding element arranged on the respective elastomer torsion spring element,
 wherein the holding element is configured to hold the inner housing of the elastomer torsion spring element in a predetermined basic position relative to the outer housing of the elastomer torsion spring element, wherein the elastomer body comprises a predetermined elastic deformation in said basic position and generates a reset torque between the outer housing and the inner housing having a predetermined minimum value, and   wherein the holding element is configured to release a rotation of the inner housing relative to the outer housing about an angle of rotation about the axis of rotation in a direction of rotation, the reset torque increasing as the angle of rotation increases.   
     
     
         24 . The support structure according to  claim 23 , wherein the holding element includes at least one clamping element comprising
 a first section fixedly engaged with one of the inner and outer housings; and   a second section striking against a section of the other of the inner and outer housings when the inner housing is in the predetermined basic position relative to the outer housing, wherein the clamping element allows relative rotation between the inner and outer housings about the axis of rotation in the direction of rotation, whereby the reset torque increases.   
     
     
         25 . The support structure according to  claim 24 , wherein the inner housing comprises a recess and the first section of the clamping element is inserted into the recess in the inner housing in a torsionally rigid manner, and wherein, when the inner housing is in the predetermined basic position relative to the outer housing, the second section of the clamping element strikes against a section of the outer housing. 
     
     
         26 . A seat assembly, comprising:
 a seat;   a back part; and   a support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the support part supports at least one of the back part and the seat.   
     
     
         27 . A seat assembly, comprising:
 a seat;   a back part; and   a support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the support part holds at least one of the back part and the seat in a position, wherein the position is a function of a position of the support part relative to the base support.