FR2826321A1 - Vehicle seat comprises back and seat parts which can move between folded down and unfolded positions, in folded position seat part occupies storage space behind back - Google Patents

Abstract

The seat comprises a back (3) and a seat part (2) which can move relative to each other between folded down and unfolded positions. In the folded position the seat part occupies storage place located behind the back. During movement of the seat part from its storage position it is moved under the back by linkages (16,17,18,19). The back can tip forwards to the seat part utilization place.

Description

<Desc / Clms Page number 1>

Vehicle seat and vehicle equipped with such a seat
The present invention relates to seats intended to be fixed to a vehicle floor and to vehicles fitted with such seats.

 More particularly, the invention relates to such a seat comprising a backrest and a seat movable with respect to each other between an unfolded position and a folded position of the seat, the seat occupying, in the unfolded position, a location d use where it extends substantially horizontally between a rear end close to the backrest and a front end remote from the backrest, and in the folded position, a storage location where the seat is also substantially horizontal, the backrest extending substantially vertically in the unfolded position, between a low end and a high end, and substantially horizontally in the folded position.

 In a seat of this type known from the prior art, the backrest is simply brought back to the seat in the folded position. The seat thus folded has a certain bulk in thickness.

 In another seat of this type known from the prior art, for example from document US 6,113,191, the backrest is also folded over the seat. But during this movement, the lower end of the backrest and the rear end of the seat, pivot, thanks to a system of connecting rods and slides, backwards from the position occupied by the backrest in the unfolded position. Thus, from the unfolded position to the folded position, the seat has partially passed under the position occupied by the backrest in the unfolded position, while the backrest has been folded down to the position

<Desc / Clms Page number 2>

 that the seat originally occupied. But the seat and the backrest are still folded over one another and have, in the folded position, a certain bulk.

 The present invention aims in particular to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

 To this end, according to the invention, a seat of the type indicated above is characterized by the fact that it comprises: - displacement means adapted to pass the seat under the lower end of the backrest, moving away the rear end of the seat of this lower end, when it moves from the use location to the storage location, the storage location being located at the rear of the use location, and - tilting means located towards the lower end of the backrest and adapted to tilt the backrest forwards, towards the place of use occupied by the seat in the unfolded position, the backrest and the seat s 'extending substantially in the extension of one another, in the folded position.

 Thanks to these provisions, the seat has, in the folded position, a reduced bulk in thickness, since the seat and the backrest are substantially in the extension of one another and not one above the other.

 In advantageous embodiments, this seat may include one and / or the other of the following provisions: the displacement means are adapted to lower the seat when it moves from the place of use to the storage space;

<Desc / Clms Page number 3>

 - It comprises two rear supports on which the lower end of the backrest is mounted, these rear supports being spaced from each other by a distance greater than the dimension of the seat, in the direction perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the seat between its position of use and its direction of storage, so that the seat passes between these two rear supports when it moves between these two positions; - It comprises connecting rods on which the seat is mounted, these connecting rods guiding the movement of the seat from its position of use, to its storage position, in a movement comprising a component in rotation and a component in translation, the component in rotation for tilting the seat so as to pass its rear end under the lower end of the backrest and the component in translation for bringing the front end of the seat near the lower end of the folder; and - it comprises two front connecting rods, two conjugation connecting rods, two rear connecting rods and two small connecting rods, each front connecting rod being pivotally mounted on the one hand on the seat near the front end thereof and on the other leaves on a front support intended to be fixed to the vehicle floor, each rear connecting rod being pivotally mounted on a rear support, each conjugation connecting rod being rotatably mounted between a front connecting rod and a rear connecting rod, and each small connecting rod being rotatably mounted between a rear link and rear end of the seat, each front link causing, when the front end of the seat is raised relative to its position of use and the seat is moved to its storage position, a of the two conjugation rods

<Desc / Clms Page number 4>

 in a rearward translational movement, each conjugation rod driving, in its translational movement, a rear rod in rotation, this rear rod driving at the same time a small rod which lowers the rear end of the seat, before dragging it backwards.

 According to another aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising a floor on which a seat is fixed according to one of the provisions indicated above.

This vehicle can then advantageously include one and / or the other of the following provisions: - it comprises a trunk with a trunk partition under which the seat is retracted into its storage position; - The backrest comprises, on its face opposite to that on which a passenger can lean, a rear plate arranged to be flush with the upper face of the boot partition, in the folded position; and - it comprises a movable plate covering at least part of the backrest located near the lower end thereof, tilting with the backrest, when passing from the unfolded position to the folded position and arranged to be flush with the upper face of the trunk partition, in the folded position.

mieux comprise à l'aide des dessins annexés sur lesquels : - la figure 1 représente schématiquement en perspective l'ossature d'un exemple de siège conforme à la présente invention ; Other aspects, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the following detailed description of an embodiment given by way of illustration and without this being limiting. The invention will further be

better understood using the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows schematically in perspective the framework of an example of a seat according to the present invention;

<Desc / Clms Page number 5>

plancher de véhicule, lorsqu'il est déplié ; - la figure 9 représente, dans une vue analogue à celle de la figure 8, le siège des figures 2 à 7, lorsqu'il est partiellement replié ; et - la figure 10 représente, dans une vue analogue à celles des figures 8 et 9, le siège des figures 2 à 7, lorsqu'il est totalement replié. - Figure 2 shows schematically, seen from the side, the seat shown in Figure 1 provided with its padding and in the unfolded position; - Figure 3 shows schematically, seen from the side, the seat of Figure 2, when the seat 2 is raised; - Figure 4 shows schematically, seen from the side, the seat of Figures 2 and 3, when the seat is partially folded; - Figure 5 shows schematically, seen from the side, the seat of Figures 2 to 4, when the seat is fully folded; - Figure 6 shows schematically, seen from the side, the seat of Figures 2 to 5, when the backrest is partially folded; - Figure 7 shows schematically, seen from the side, the seat of Figures 2 to 6, when the backrest is fully folded; - Figure 8 shows schematically, in perspective, the seat of Figures 2 to 7, mounted on a

vehicle floor, when unfolded; - Figure 9 shows, in a view similar to that of Figure 8, the seat of Figures 2 to 7, when partially folded; and - Figure 10 shows, in a view similar to those of Figures 8 and 9, the seat of Figures 2 to 7, when fully folded.

 FIG. 1 represents, in the unfolded position, an example of a seat 1 in accordance with the present invention. More specifically, it is the structure of this seat 1.

<Desc / Clms Page number 6>

 This seat 1 comprises a seat 2, a backrest 3, two front supports 4 and two rear supports 5 intended to be fixed to the floor of a vehicle.

 The seat 2 extends substantially horizontally between a rear end 29 and a front end 30 in a direction X. The backrest 3 extends substantially vertically between a low end 31 and a high end 32 in a direction Z.

 The top, bottom, front and back adjectives used in this text refer to these directions.

 The seat 2 comprises a parallelepipedic frame 6.

This frame comprises a front bar 7 and a rear bar 8. A metal wire 9 is welded between the front bar and the rear bar and crisscrosses, in a known manner, the space delimited by the frame 6 to support the padding of the 'seat 2.

 The backrest 3 comprises a U-shaped tube 10 to which is fixed a rear plate 11. Each end of the branches of the tube 10 is fixed to a foot 12. Each foot 12 is pivotally mounted about an axis Y substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the directions X and Z.

 The front supports 4 consist of a plate folded at a right angle. A part of this plate, substantially horizontal, constitutes a support intended to be fixed to the floor. The other, substantially vertical, part has a pivot 13 and a lug 14. Between the pivot 13 and the lug 14 passes a straight line slightly inclined relative to the direction X. The front supports 4 are located towards the front of the 'seat 2, when the seat 1 is in the unfolded position.

<Desc / Clms Page number 7>

 The rear supports 5 also consist of a plate folded at a right angle. A part of this plate, substantially horizontal, constitutes a support intended to be fixed to the floor. The other, substantially vertical, part supports a rotation shaft 15 of axis y on which a foot 12 is rotatably mounted. The rear supports 5 are located towards the rear of the seat 2, when the seat 1 is in position unfolded.

 The seat 1 is symmetrical with respect to the median plane of the seat 2 and of the backrest 3. Thus, the seat 1 comprises on each side of this plane a system of connecting rods consisting of a front connecting rod 16, of a connecting rod 17, a rear connecting rod 18 and a small connecting rod 19. A single connecting rod system is described below, the connecting rod system on the other side being deduced by symmetry.

 Each front link 16 consists of a triangular plate. A top of this triangular plate is pivotally mounted on one end of the front bar 7 of the seat 2. Another top of this triangular plate is rotatably mounted on a front support 4. The last top of this triangular plate is provided with a notch 20 adapted to hang on the lug 14 projecting from the aforementioned front support 4. The notch 20 is open substantially downwards.

 Between the vertices pivotally mounted respectively on the front bar 7 and on a front support 4, the triangular plate has a pivot axis 21. A connecting rod 17, in the form of a flat rod, extends substantially horizontally, in the unfolded position, towards the rear, between the pivot axis 21 and a rear connecting rod 18.

<Desc / Clms Page number 8>

 This rear link 18 is also made up of a triangular plate with two short sides and a long side. In the unfolded position, the long side is substantially horizontal and upwards, while the top at which the short sides meet is located downwards.

The other two vertices are therefore located forward and backward respectively.

 The connecting rod 17 is rotatably mounted on another pivot axis 22 located substantially at the top at which the short sides meet. The top of the rear connecting rod 18 located towards the rear when the seat 1 is in the unfolded position, is rotatably mounted on a branch 23, fixedly mounted on the rear support 5 and extending substantially horizontally rearward from this rear support 5.

 The small connecting rod 19 is formed of a flat rod extending forward, slightly inclined relative to the vertical in the unfolded position, between an end rotatably mounted on the top of the rear connecting rod 18 located forward, when the seat is in the unfolded position, and the rear bar 8 of the seat 2.

 The movements of the seat 2 and of the backrest 3 during the transition from the unfolded position to the folded position are described below with the aid of FIGS. 2 to 7. These FIGS. 2 to 7 are side views allowing in particular to highlight a recess 24 present on the rear plate 11. The function of this recess 24 will be explained in relation to FIGS. 8 to 10.

 2 shows the seat 1 described in relation to Figure 1, provided with its padding 25. In the unfolded position, the notch 20 and the lug 14 cooperate to lock the seat 1 in this position.

<Desc / Clms Page number 9>

 As shown in FIG. 3, when the front end 30 of the seat 2 is raised, the top of the front link 16 linked to the front bar 7 pivots around the top linked to the front support 4 and the notch 20 is released of the lug 14. At the same time, the conjugation rod 17 is moved rearward, which causes a rotation of the rear rod 18 around its apex linked to the branch 23 and a lowering of its apex linked to the small connecting rod 19. In the same movement, the latter drives downwards and under the backrest 3, the rear end 29 of the seat 2.

 As shown in FIG. 4, when the front end 30 of the seat 2 is pushed back, the front link 16 tilts further back. This drives the conjugation rod 17 also towards the rear which itself rotates the rear rod 18 around its apex linked to the branch 23. This is accompanied by a movement towards the rear of the apex of the rod rear 18 linked to the small connecting rod 19. This movement causes the small connecting rod 19 and the rear end 29 of the seat 2 to rise, but the latter remains below a level N corresponding to a bulkhead of the vehicle boot on which the seat 1 is intended to be mounted.

 As shown in FIG. 5, when the front end 30 of the seat 2 is lowered at the same time as it is pushed backwards, the front connecting rod 16 completes its tilting until its side connecting the top linked to the front bar 7 and that linked to the front support 4 is substantially horizontal. The conjugation rod 18 then retreated to the maximum. Its end linked to the rear connecting rod 19 is substantially diametrically opposite with respect to the pivot axis 26 of the rear connecting rod 18 on

<Desc / Clms Page number 10>

 the branch 23, relative to the position occupied by this end in the unfolded position (Figures 1 and 2). The small connecting rod 19 extends rearward, inclined at 45 0 relative to the vertical. The rear end 29 of the seat 2 has again risen while remaining below the level N. The seat 2 is then retracted, behind the backrest 3, below the level N.

 The seat 2 is again substantially horizontal and the front end 30 is brought as close as possible to the backrest 3 and the rear support 5.

 As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the backrest 3 is then tilted forward, towards the position occupied by the seat 2. This rocking movement takes place independently of the movement of the seat 2.

 As shown in FIG. 7, when the backrest 3 has completely tilted, the rear plate 11 is flush with the level N.

 It can be noted that, when passing from the unfolded position to the folded position, the backrest and the seat are moved independently of one another.

 Figures 8 to 10 show two seats 1 such as that described above, mounted on a vehicle, at the last row of rear seats, before the trunk. This trunk comprises a trunk partition 27 and two movable plates 28. Each movable plate 28 covers part of the rear plate 11 of the backrest 3 of each seat 1.

 The front and rear supports of these seats are located below level N of the boot partition 27.

 In Figures 8 to 10, one of the seats 1 is in the folded position (position corresponding to that of Figure 7).

<Desc / Clms Page number 11>

 FIG. 8 also shows a seat 1 in the unfolded position (position corresponding to that of FIGS. 1 and 2).

 In FIG. 9, the seat 2 of this seat 1 is retracted under the boot partition 27 and the backrest 3 is partly tilted forward (position corresponding to that of FIG. 6). The movable plate 28 has also tilted, thus following the movement of the backrest 3.

 In Figure 10, the backrest 3 is completely tilted, as for the neighboring seat. The movable plate 28 is erased in the recess 24 of the rear plate 11.

Thus, the rear plate 11 and the movable plate 28 are flush with the upper face of the trunk partition 27. This gives a uniformly flat trunk loading plan.

 Many variants of the embodiment presented above can be envisaged.

 Thus, according to a variant, provision can be made for the seat 2 to be retracted under the partition 27 by simple translation from the position of use to the storage position, before the backrest 3 is tilted towards the location occupied by the seat 2 in the use position.

Claims (9)

1. Seat intended to be fixed to a vehicle floor, this seat (1) comprising a backrest (3) and a seat (2) movable relative to each other between an unfolded position and a folded position of the seat , the seat (2) occupying, in the unfolded position, a place of use where it extends substantially horizontally between a rear end (29) close to the backrest (3) and a front end (30) remote from the backrest ( 3), and in the folded position, a storage location where the seat (2) is also substantially horizontal, the backrest (3) extending substantially vertically in the unfolded position, between a low end (31) and an end high (32), and substantially horizontally in the folded position, characterized in that it comprises: - displacement means (16, 17, 18, 19) adapted to pass the seat (2) under the lower end (31) of the backrest, moving the rear end (30) away from the seat (2) of this lower end (31), when it moves from the use location to the storage location, the storage location being located at the rear of the use location , and - tilting means (12, 15) located towards the lower end (31) of the backrest (3) and adapted to tilt the backrest (3) forward, towards the place of use that occupied the seat (2) in the unfolded position, the backrest {3) and the seat (2) extending substantially in the extension of one another, in the folded position.  2. Seat according to claim 1, wherein the displacement means (16, 17, 18,19) are adapted for <Desc / Clms Page number 13>  lower the seat (2) when moving from the place of use to the storage place.  3. Seat according to one of the preceding claims, comprising two rear supports (5) on which is mounted the lower end (31) of the backrest, these rear supports (5) being spaced from one another by distance greater than the dimension of the seat (2), in the direction (y) perpendicular to the direction of movement of the seat (2) between its position of use and its direction of storage, so that the 'seat (2) passes between these two rear supports (5) when it moves between these two positions.  4. Seat according to claim 3, comprising

 connecting rods (161'7, 18, 19) on which the seat (2) is mounted, these connecting rods (16, 17, 18, 19) guiding the movement of the seat (2) from its position of use, to its storage position, in a movement comprising a rotating component and a translating component, the rotating component making it possible to tilt the seat (2) so as to pass its rear end (29) under the lower end ( 31) of the backrest (3) and the component in translation allowing the front end (30) of the seat (2) to be brought close to the low end (31) of the backrest (3).  5. Seat according to claim 4, comprising two front connecting rods (16) two connecting rods (17), two rear connecting rods (18) and two small connecting rods (19), each front connecting rod (16) being pivotally mounted on the one hand on the seat (2) near the front end (30) thereof and on the other hand on a front support 4) intended to be fixed to the vehicle floor, each rear link (18) being pivotally mounted on a rear support (5), each <Desc / Clms Page number 14>  connecting rod (17) being rotatably mounted between a front connecting rod (16) and a rear connecting rod (18), and each small connecting rod (19) being rotatably mounted between a rear connecting rod (18) and the rear end (29) of the seat (2), each front link (16) driving, when the front end (30) of the seat (2) is raised relative to the position of use and the seat is moved to its position storage, one of the two conjugation rods (17) in a rearward translational movement, each conjugation rod (17) causing, in its translational movement, a rear rod (18) in rotation, this rear rod ( 18) driving at the same time a small connecting rod (19) which lowers the rear end of the seat (2), before driving it backwards.  6. Vehicle comprising a floor on which is fixed a seat (1) according to one of the preceding claims.  7. Vehicle according to claim 6, comprising a trunk with a trunk partition (27) under which the seat (2) is retracted into its storage position.  8. Vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the backrest (3) comprises, on its face opposite to that on which a passenger can lean, a rear plate (11) arranged to be flush with the upper face of the trunk partition ( 27), in the folded position.  9. Vehicle according to one of claims 7 and 8, comprising a movable plate (28) covering at least part of the backrest (3) located near the lower end (31) thereof, tilting with the backrest (3), when passing from the unfolded position to the folded position and arranged to be flush with the upper face of the boot partition (27), in the folded position.