Method and device for determining the surface contour in an elastic seat cushion deformable for under load

US5747676A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Mercedes-Benz Group AG · DE

Inventors

• Eberhard Faust · Stuttgart, DE
• Wolfram Judenhahn · Leutenbach, DE
• Lothar Kassing · Nufringen, DE
• Karl Pfahler · Stuttgart, DE
• Reiner Renz · Ostelsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 21, 1997
• Grant date: May 5, 1998
• Expiry date: Jan 21, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M99/001
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and a device for determining the surface contour of an elastic seat cushion deformable under load are provided. Through the use of a measuring mat placed on the seat cushion, after the load is relieved, the resultant deformed state corresponding to the deformed surface of the cushion is preserved by applying a vacuum to the measuring mat. The three-dimensional surface contour of the measuring mat fixed in its deformed state is measured with a multicoordinate measuring device in known fashion. The measuring mat consists of two vacuum-tight material webs, especially plastic films, connected vacuum-tight with one another to form a pocket having a vacuum connection, with the pocket being filled with a granulate, preferably a foam granulate.