Seating set including a modular central seat
The central seat's offset backrest design with lateral support surfaces addresses the issue of unused space and shoulder interference, enhancing comfort for two or three passengers by ensuring optimal seating arrangements.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2019009727
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2019-09-04
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-03
- Estimated Expiration
- 2039-09-04
AI Technical Summary
Traditional vehicle bench seats with a central seat between two side seats often leave unused space when two passengers are seated, and accommodating a third passenger can lead to uncomfortable shoulder interference, compromising overall comfort.
The central seat's backrest extends in a transverse plane offset from the side seats' backrests, creating lateral support surfaces on either side, with adjustable positioning to avoid shoulder interference and enhance comfort for two or three passengers.
The offset and adjustable design ensures that passengers' shoulders do not interfere, providing improved comfort by creating lateral support surfaces, accommodating three passengers comfortably without compromising space utilization.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Set of seats comprising a modular central seat
[0001] The present invention relates to a set of vehicle seats, of the type comprising at least two side seats and a central seat extending between said side seats, each of said side and central seats comprising a seat and a backrest, each backrest comprising a support surface intended to receive the back of a passenger, each seat extending in a longitudinal direction from the corresponding backrest, the support surfaces of the backrests of the side seats extending substantially at least partly in a first transverse plane forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal direction.
[0002] The invention applies for example to a rear bench seat of a vehicle. Such a bench seat is arranged to accommodate two or three passengers. When two passengers are seated on the bench seat, they generally sit on the two side seats and leave the central seat free. When a third passenger is accommodated, he occupies the central seat between the two side seats.
[0003] When two passengers are seated, an armrest provided in the center seat can optionally be deployed, but the unoccupied center seat leaves mostly unused empty space, which is not optimized for the comfort of both passengers.
[0004] When three passengers are accommodated, it is possible that their size may make their installation uncomfortable, particularly at the level of their shoulders which may be in contact.
[0005] Thus, the bench seat does not offer optimal comfort when it accommodates two or three passengers.
[0006] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome this drawback by proposing a set of vehicle seats offering increased comfort when at least two or three passengers are accommodated.
[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a set of vehicle seats of the aforementioned type, in which the support surface of the backrest of the central seat extends substantially at least partly in a second transverse plane offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the first transverse plane, the distance separating the first transverse plane from the second transverse plane in the longitudinal direction is between 30 mm and 140 mm.
[0008] Thus, in the set of seats according to the invention, the back of the central seat is offset relative to the backs of the side seats, thus creating lateral support surfaces on either side of the back of the central seat, these surfaces being able to be used by passengers in the side seats. In addition, an occupant can sit in the center seat without their shoulders interfering with those of the occupants in the side seats.
[0009] According to other characteristics of the set of seats according to the invention, taken in isolation or in any technically conceivable combination:
[0010] - the distance separating the first transverse plane from the second transverse plane is fixed ;
[0011] - the support surface of the backrest of the central seat is movable relative to the surface support of the backrests of the side seats, so that the distance separating the first transverse plane from the second transverse plane is variable;
[0012] - the central seat comprises an inflatable element, the inflation of said inflatable element causing the support surface of the backrest of the central seat to move relative to the support surface of the backrests of the side seats;
[0013] - the back of the central seat moves on the seat of the central seat;
[0014] - the seat of the central seat moves with the backrest in the longitudinal direction;
[0015] - the support surface of the backrest of the central seat is movable between at least one first position of use, in which the support surface of the backrest of the central seat extends substantially at least in part in a second transverse plane offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the first transverse plane, and a second position of use, in which the support surface of the backrest of the central seat extends substantially at least in part in the first transverse plane in the continuity of the support surfaces of the backrests of the side seats;
[0016] - the central seat comprises two lateral support walls extending on either side of the support surface of the backrest of said central seat, each of said side walls extending in projection in the longitudinal direction of a first lateral edge of the support surface of the backrest of one of the side seats and joining said first lateral edge to the support surface of the backrest of the central seat; and
[0017] - each side seat comprises a side wall extending projecting along the longitudinal direction of the support surface of the backrest of said side seat along a second lateral edge of said support surface (18), said first and second lateral edges extending on either side of the support surface of the backrest of said side seat.
[0018] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a set of seats as described above, the set of seats forming the rear bench seat of the vehicle.
[0019] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
[0020] [fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a set of seats according to the invention, and
[0021] [fig.2] Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective representation of the whole of seats of Fig. 1, in another position of use, according to a particular embodiment of the invention.
[0022] With reference to Fig. 1, a set of seats 1 is described comprising at least two side seats 2 and a central seat 4 extending between and adjacent to the side seats 2. Such a set of seats forms, for example, the rear bench seat of a vehicle or a central bench seat of a large capacity vehicle comprising several benches, such as a coach.
[0023] Each side or central seat 2, 4 comprises a seat 6 and a backrest 8. Thus, each side seat 2 comprises a side seat 10 and a side backrest 12 and the central seat comprises a central seat 14 and a central backrest 16. Conventionally, the seat 6 forms a seating surface on which a passenger can sit and the backrest 8 forms a support surface 18 on which the back of a passenger seated on the seat 6 can rest. The seat 6 projects in a longitudinal direction L from a lower end of the backrest 8. The longitudinal direction corresponds for example to the rear-front direction in a traditional vehicle, that is to say in which the seats are turned towards the front of the vehicle. The backrest 8 projects in a direction of elevation from a rear end of the seat 6. The direction of elevation corresponds to the height of the vehicle.
[0024] The support surfaces 18 of the side backrests 12 extend substantially in a first transverse plane forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal direction L. The first transverse plane is for example substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. By “extend substantially in continuity with each other in a first transverse plane”, it is meant that at least a portion of each support surface 18 extends in the first transverse plane, but not that the entire support surface 18 necessarily extends in this plane or that the support surfaces 18 are entirely coplanar. Indeed, each support surface 18 can be shaped to optimize the comfort of a passenger leaning on this support surface 18. Thus, the support surface 18 is not necessarily flat and can include reliefs and / or hollows to improve the reception of the passenger.In other words, the fact that the support surfaces 18 of the side backrests 12 extend in a first transverse plane must be understood as meaning that the support surfaces 18 extend substantially at the same level in the longitudinal direction L.
[0025] The bearing surface 18 of the central backrest 16 is offset in the longitudinal direction L so as to project in this direction relative to the bearing surfaces 18 of the lateral backrests 12, as shown in Fig. 1. In other words, in a traditional vehicle in which the seats are turned forward, the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 is offset forward. Thus, the seat surface 18 of the central backrest 16 extends substantially in a second transverse plane offset in the longitudinal direction L relative to the first transverse plane. By “extends substantially in the second transverse plane”, it is meant that at least a portion of the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 extends in the second transverse plane, but not that all of this support surface extends in this plane. As indicated previously, the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 is not in fact necessarily flat. The support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 is offset by a distance of between 30 mm and 140 mm in the longitudinal direction relative to the support surfaces 18 of the lateral backrests 12. This distance thus corresponds to the distance measured in the longitudinal direction L separating the first transverse plane from the second transverse plane.Such a distance makes it possible, in particular, to ensure that the shoulders of a passenger sitting in the central seat 4 do not interfere with the shoulders of passengers sitting in the side seats, which improves the comfort of the seating assembly when three passengers occupy it.
[0026] The bearing surface 18 of the central backrest 16, advanced in the longitudinal direction relative to the bearing surfaces 18 of the lateral backrests 12, is connected to these bearing surfaces 18 of the lateral backrests 12 by lateral bearing walls 20 extending on either side of the bearing surface 18 of the central backrest 16, as shown in FIG. 1. Each lateral support wall 20 extends substantially in the longitudinal direction L between a first lateral edge 22 of a support surface 18 of the lateral backrest 12 and a lateral edge of the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16, these two lateral edges being offset from each other in the longitudinal direction L. In other words, each lateral support wall 20 extends projecting from the first lateral edge 22 of the support surface 18 of the lateral backrest 12 of one of the lateral seats 2.Thus, a passenger seated in a side seat 2 can lean against the side support wall 20 extending between the seat on which he is seated and the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16. The width of the side support wall 20, measured in the longitudinal direction, corresponds to the distance separating the first longitudinal plane and the second longitudinal plane and is between 30 mm and 140 mm.
[0027] According to one embodiment, each side seat 2 further comprises, along a second lateral edge 24, opposite the first lateral edge 22, another lateral wall 26 extending projecting from the second lateral edge 24 in the longitudinal direction opposite the lateral support wall 20 of the corresponding central seat 4. Thus, a passenger seated on a side seat 2 is supported on the support surface 18 of the lateral backrest 12 between two lateral walls 20 and 26, which offers him increased comfort. Indeed, such a support surface 18 bordered by two lateral walls 20 and 26 is similar to the backrest of an armchair, in particular a so-called “wing” armchair which offers two lateral support surfaces around the backrest.
[0028] Furthermore, as indicated previously, a third passenger can take a seat in the central seat 4 without his shoulders interfering with those of his neighbors seated in the side seats 2.
[0029] According to one embodiment, the distance separating the first transverse plane from the second transverse plane is fixed, that is to say that the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 is immobile relative to the support surface of the lateral backrests 12. According to this embodiment, if the set of seats 1 is moved, this movement is done without modifying the distance separating the first transverse plane from the second transverse plane.
[0030] According to another embodiment, the support surface 10 of the backrest 8 of the central seat 4 is movable in the longitudinal direction between a first position of use (Fig. 1) and a second position of use (Fig. 2).
[0031] The first position corresponds to the configuration described previously, in which the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 is offset in the longitudinal direction L relative to the support surface 18 of the lateral backrests 12.
[0032] In the second position of use, the central backrest 16 of the central seat 4 is moved in the longitudinal direction L so as to be substantially aligned with the lateral backrests 12 of the lateral seats 2, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, in a traditional vehicle in which the seats are turned forwards, the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 is moved rearward in the longitudinal direction between the first position and the second position.
[0033] In the second position, the first lateral edge 22 of the bearing surface 18 of a lateral backrest 12 and the corresponding lateral edge of the bearing surface 18 of the central backrest 16 are adjacent to each other.
[0034] Thus, in the second position of use, the set of seats 1 forms a traditional vehicle bench seat, capable of accommodating two or three passengers. The passengers are then seated next to each other substantially at the same level in the longitudinal direction.
[0035] It should be noted that the shape of the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 may be different in the first position of use and in the second position of use, this support surface 18 being able to undergo deformation when moving from the first position of use to the second position of use, as will be described later.
[0036] According to one embodiment, the movement of the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 between the first position of use and the second position of use is obtained by the inflation of an inflatable element (not shown) located in the central backrest 16. The inflation of this inflatable element is arranged to deform the support surface 18 so that at least a portion thereof moves in the longitudinal direction L towards the first position of use. Alternatively, the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 is substantially non-deformable and is movable as a whole between the first position of use and the second position of use under the effect of the inflation or deflation of the inflatable element.
[0037] According to another embodiment, the movement of the support surface 18 is obtained by a different movement mechanism, for example formed by a jack or other, arranged to move the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16.
[0038] The movement of the support surface 18 towards the first position of use causes the deployment of the lateral support walls 20 between the support surface of the lateral backrests 12 and the support surface of the central backrest 16. In the second position of use, the lateral support walls 20 are for example folded back on themselves between the central backrest 16 and the lateral backrests 12, more particularly between the lateral edges of the central backrest and the first lateral edges 22 of the lateral seats.Alternatively, the lateral support walls are substantially rigid and are movable with the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 between a retracted position, in which the lateral support walls 20 extend behind the support surfaces 18 of the backrests in the longitudinal direction between the lateral edges of these support surfaces, and a deployed position, in which they extend projecting from the support surfaces 18 of the lateral backrests 12, as described previously.
[0039] According to the embodiments described above, the support surface 18 of the central backrest 16 is movable between the first and second positions of use relative to the central seat 14, that is to say that the support surface 18 moves on the central seat 14 between the first and second positions of use while the central seat 14 remains stationary. According to a variant, the entire central seat 4 is movable between the first and second positions of use, the central seat 14 and the central backrest 16 moving together in the longitudinal direction L between these two positions.
[0040] According to one embodiment, the bearing surface 18 of the central backrest 16 is movable in a plurality of intermediate positions of use between the first position of use and the second position of use, in which the bearing surface 18 extends at different distances from the bearing surfaces 18 of the lateral backrests 12. Thus, in the intermediate positions of use, the bearing surface 18 of the central backrest 16 extends substantially in different intermediate transverse planes offset in the longitudinal direction relative to the first transverse plane. According to this embodiment, the first and second positions of use thus form extreme positions of the bearing surface 18 of the central backrest 16. The different intermediate positions are for example obtained by inflating more or less the inflatable element of the central backrest 16.
[0041] The set of seats 1 described above is therefore modular and can be placed in different positions to improve the comfort of the passengers, whether there are two or three of them.
[0042] It is understood that the invention could be applied to larger sets of seats comprising, for example, several central seats, the backrests of which are offset relative to the side backrests, between the side seats. Alternatively, for a set of seats comprising more than three seats, the support surfaces of the backrests are, for example, alternately offset so that the shoulders of people sitting next to each other do not interfere with each other.
Claims
Claims
1. Set of vehicle seats (1) comprising at least two side seats (2) and a central seat (4) extending between said side seats (2), each of said side seats (2) and central seats (4) comprising a seat (6, 10, 14) and a backrest (8, 12, 16), each backrest (8, 12, 16) comprising a support surface (18) intended to receive the back of a passenger, each seat (6, 10, 14), extending in a longitudinal direction (L) from the corresponding backrest (8, 12, 16), the support surfaces (18) of the backrests (8, 12, 16) of the side seats (2) extending substantially at least partly in a first transverse plane forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal direction (L), characterized in that the support surface (18) of the backrest (8, 16) of the central seat (4) extends substantially at least partly in a second transverse plane offset in the longitudinal direction (L) relative to the first transverse plane,the distance separating the first transverse plane from the second transverse plane in the longitudinal direction (L) is between 30 mm and 140 mm.,
2. A seating assembly according to claim 1, wherein the distance separating the first transverse plane from the second transverse plane is fixed.
3. Seat assembly according to claim 1, in which the support surface (18) of the backrest (8, 16) of the central seat is movable relative to the support surface (18) of the backrests (8, 12) of the side seats, so that the distance separating the first transverse plane from the second transverse plane is variable.
4. A seating assembly according to claim 3, wherein the central seat (4) comprises an inflatable element, the inflation of said inflatable element causing the movement of the support surface (18) of the backrest (8, 16) of the central seat (4) relative to the support surface (18) of the backrests (8, 12) of the side seats.
5. A seating assembly according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the backrest (8, 16) of the central seat (4) moves on the seat (6, 14) of the central seat (4).
6. Seat assembly according to claim 3 to 4, in which the seat (6, 14) of the central seat (4) moves with the backrest (8, 16) in the longitudinal direction (L).
7. A seating assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 6, in which the support surface (18) of the backrest (8, 16) of the central seat (4) is movable between at least a first position of use, in which the support surface (18) of the backrest (8, 16) of the central seat (4) extends substantially at least in part in a second transverse plane offset in the longitudinal direction (L) relative to the first transverse plane, and a second position of use, in which the support surface (18) of the backrest (8, 16) of the central seat (4) extends substantially at least in part in the first transverse plane in the continuity of the support surfaces of the backrests (8, 12) of the side seats (2).
8. A set of seats according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the central seat (4) comprises two lateral support walls (20) extending on either side of the support surface (18) of the backrest (8, 16) of said central seat (4), each of said lateral walls (20) extending projecting in the longitudinal direction (L) from a first lateral edge (22) of the support surface (18) of the backrest (8, 12) of one of the lateral seats (2) and joining said first lateral edge (22) to the support surface (18) of the backrest (8, 16) of the central seat (4).
9. A set of seats according to claim 8, wherein each side seat (2) comprises a side wall (26) extending projecting in the longitudinal direction (L) of the bearing surface (18) of the backrest (8, 12) of said side seat (2) along a second lateral edge (24) of said bearing surface (18), said first and second lateral edges (22, 24) extending on either side of the bearing surface (18) of the backrest (8, 12) of said side seat (2).
10. Vehicle comprising a set of seats (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said set of seats (1) forming the rear bench seat of said vehicle.