IP Library Granted Patent US 11,820,258
Granted Patent B2
US 11,820,258 · App. 17/598,932 · Granted Nov 21, 2023

Flexible structural component and use

Inventors: Daniel Bahr (Kürten, DE); Thomas Frotz (Wermelskirchen, DE); Rudolf Wilhelm Hemmelrath (Leverkusen, DE)
Assignee: Adient US LLC
B60N2/22A47C3/021B60N2/686B60N3/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,820,258
App. No.
17/598,932
Granted
Nov 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A structural component may have a flexible structure with at least one adjusting mechanism, which may be formed at least from a plurality of folded elements or lever elements and spacing elements that are coupled to one another in such a way that their upper surfaces are connected to one another by an upper flat element and their lower surfaces are connected to one another by a lower flat element. The upper flat element and the lower flat element may be configured to be moved in a defined manner in the event of a tilting movement of the flexible structure.

Claims (23)

1. A structural component comprising:

a flexible structure having at least one adjusting mechanism which is formed at least from a plurality of folding elements or lever elements and

spacer elements which are coupled together such that their upper surfaces are connected together by an upper surface element and their lower surfaces are connected together by a lower surface element,

wherein the spacer elements alternate between being connected only at an upper end to the upper surface element and only at a lower end to the lower surface element,

wherein the upper surface element and the lower surface element are set up to move in a defined manner in the event of an inclination movement of the flexible structure.

2. The structural component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting mechanism is formed as a folded construction made up of a plurality of folding elements or lever elements and a plurality of spacer elements that are coupled together in terms of movement.

3. The structural component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one folding element is configured as an extensive or strip-like folding element with at least a 1-fold mechanism or a multi-fold mechanism.

4. The structural component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the folding element is arranged between two spacer elements or against one spacer element.

5. The structural component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the folding elements or lever elements are connected to the spacer elements in different orientations.

6. The structural component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a plurality of folding elements or lever elements, which are arranged in an offset manner with respect to one another, are arranged between two spacer elements.

7. The structural component as claimed in claim 6 , wherein at least two folding elements or lever elements are arranged in an offset manner with respect to one another such that their folded edges or joint axes are perpendicular to one another.

8. The structural component as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the spacer element(s) is/are configured as hollow and/or profile elements.

9. The structural component as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the spacer elements are coupled together in terms of movement by the folding elements or lever elements.

10. The structural component as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the mutual spacing of the spacer elements changes in the event of an inclination movement of the flexible structure.

11. The structural component as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the upper surface element and the lower surface element are each formed from such a flexible material and/or with such a material thickness that they are each able to be bent or inclined in a defined radius through at least 90 degrees.

12. The use of a structural component as claimed in claim 6 as a movable component, including a movable door, an adjustable partition wall, an adjustable seat with or without an adjustable contour, a seat with an adjustable contour, a movable display unit, a movable display screen, an adjustable table, an adjustable armrest, an adjustable lamp.

13. A seat component, including a backrest or seating part, wherein the seat component comprises at least:

a supporting structure,

a covering comprising a padding and/or a cover element, and

a structural component as claimed in claim 1 .

14. The seat component as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the structural component, including the upper surface element, is coupled in terms of movement to the covering.

15. The seat component as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the structural component is arranged between the supporting structure and the covering.

16. A seat comprising at least two seat components that are movable relative to one another, of which at least one of the seat components comprises a structural component as claimed in claim 1 .

Assignments (4)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2023
From: CNI ENTERPRISES, INC.; ADIENT US LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063085/0391 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN IP Recorded Nov 17, 2022
From: ADIENT US LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061956/0301 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2022
From: ADIENT ENGINEERING AND IP GMBH
To: ADIENT US LLC
Reel/Frame 059086/0402 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2021
From: BAHR, DANIEL; FROTZ, THOMAS; HEMMELRATH, RUDOLF WILHELM
To: ADIENT ENGINEERING AND IP GMBH
Reel/Frame 057619/0333 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 204 614.2 · Apr 1, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220212573A1 · Jul 7, 2022
Cited By (2)
US 12,433,417 US 12,538,983