Vehicle seat arrangement system

Abstract

Vehicle seating arrangement system (2) for a vehicle interior (3), comprising - at least two interior fittings (6), at least one of which is a vehicle seat, and - a vehicle seat guidance structure (4) extending along a vehicle floor with at least one curved guide section (11, 22, 23), wherein the vehicle seat guidance structure (4) is designed for two-dimensionally guiding and displacing the at least two interior fittings elements (6) along the vehicle floor and relative to each other, wherein each of the at least two interior fittings elements (6) has a slider (14) designed for attaching and guiding the interior fitting (6) to the vehicle seat guidance structure (4), wherein the slider (14) comprises at least two horizontal slider axes (15, 16a, 16b), at least two of which are connected via a pivot joint (17a, 17b) for varying a horizontal angle between them.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seat arrangement system for a vehicle interior, which comprises at least two interior trim elements, including at least one vehicle seat, and a vehicle seat guide structure extending along a vehicle floor for guiding the at least two interior trim elements. Technical background

[0002] Conventional vehicle seat sliding devices typically allow limited translational adjustment of a vehicle seat in the direction of travel. As is known, for example, from DE 20 2008 018 315 U1, a separate, linear vehicle floor rail is usually provided for each vehicle seat. If a vehicle seat becomes obstructive, it must be removed from such a rail and lifted out of the vehicle. To provide more legroom in the second row, complex structures are required in the first row.

[0003] The document DE 10 2015 216 171 A1 discloses a seat fastening system for a vehicle, comprising at least one floor rail extending in the direction of travel and fixed to a vehicle floor and at least one side rail likewise extending in the direction of travel and fixed to an inner side of an interior of the vehicle, wherein the floor rail and the at least one side rail are arranged relative to one another such that a seat element provided with a first fastening device and a second fastening device can be fastened to the floor rail by means of the first fastening device and to the side rail by means of the second fastening device in order to fasten the seat element to the seat fastening system.

[0004] The document DE 199 15 220 A discloses a device for fastening rear seats in a motor vehicle, with an anchoring device provided on the seat substructure, with which the respective rear seat is fastened to the vehicle body, wherein the anchoring device has a curved seat rail fastened to the vehicle body, which extends transversely to the vehicle longitudinal direction essentially in a horizontal plane and wherein the rear seat is displaceably mounted in at least two receivers along the seat rail.

[0005] The document DE 10 2013 000 741 A1 discloses a device for the releasable fastening of built-in components in the interior of a motor vehicle, with at least one laterally open fastening rail, and with at least one clamping body which cooperates with the fastening rail and is at least indirectly connected to the built-in component, wherein the clamping body, in a first position, enables the built-in component to be inserted laterally into the fastening rail, wherein the clamping body, in a second position, laterally engages behind an undercut in the fastening rail, and wherein the clamping body, in a third position, is connected to the fastening rail in a frictionally engaged and / or positively engaged manner, characterized in that a lever system with at least one lever is provided, via which the clamping body can be moved against the force of a spring means at least from the first position or the second position into the third position.

[0006] The document DE 699 20 043 T2 discloses a seat arrangement for a motor vehicle having a number of seats arranged to be displaceable between various mutual positions along at least two parallel rails extending in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle in the motor vehicle floor, wherein the seats each have a backrest portion and a seat portion and are slidably attached to the rails by means of connecting parts, via which the seats can be locked in a plurality of positions along the rails; wherein the seat portion of the seats is pivotally mounted with respect to the backrest portion in such a way that it can assume a first folded-down position and a second position in which it is folded against the backrest portion;wherein at least one rail extends substantially in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle, wherein the transverse rail interconnects the rails extending in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle such that the seats can be moved via the transverse rail from engagement with one longitudinally extending rail into engagement with the other;

[0007] The document DE 10 2011 108 374 A1 discloses a method for controlling a longitudinally adjustable and rotatable vehicle seat, which comprises a first upper rail movably guided in a first lower rail, a second upper rail movably guided in a second lower rail, a first motor for driving the first upper rail, a second motor for driving the second upper rail and a seat shell, wherein the seat shell is displaced in a straight line by a displacement of the upper rails relative to the lower rails in the same direction and the seat shell undergoes a rotation about a vertical axis by a displacement of the first upper rail relative to the second upper rail.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seat arrangement system for a vehicle interior which, compared to straight individual rails, allows significantly more flexibility with regard to the mutual arrangement of vehicle seats and other interior fittings in the vehicle interior. Disclosure of the invention

[0009] This object is achieved by a vehicle seat arrangement system according to claim 1, as well as a corresponding vehicle retrofit kit and a motor vehicle according to the independent claims. Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. All further features and effects mentioned in the claims and the description for the vehicle seat arrangement system also apply to the vehicle retrofit kit and the motor vehicle, and vice versa.

[0010] According to a first aspect, a vehicle seat assembly system for a vehicle interior is provided, the vehicle seat assembly system comprising: - at least two interior fittings, at least one of which is a vehicle seat and - a vehicle seat guide structure extending along a vehicle floor, which has at least one curved guide section and is designed for two-dimensional (ie non-linear) guiding and displacing the at least two interior fitting elements along the vehicle floor and relative to one another.

[0011] Each of the at least two interior trim elements of the vehicle seat arrangement system has a slider designed to connect and guide the interior trim element to the vehicle seat guide structure. Such a slider comprises at least two horizontal slider axes, two of which are connected via a pivot joint to vary a horizontal angle between them. The at least two slider axes can also comprise several pairs, the slider axes of which are connected via a pivot joint to vary a horizontal angle between them. Such pivot joints allow the slider to adapt, for example, to a changing rail geometry along the at least one curved guide section by correspondingly changing the angular position of its slider axes.

[0012] In particular, the slider can comprise three slider axes arranged in an approximately H-shape: a longitudinal slider axis arranged along the vehicle seat guide structure, and two transverse slider axes arranged transversely to the vehicle seat guide structure and each connected to the longitudinal slider axis via a pivot joint. The achievable horizontal angles between the respective slider axes can depend, for example, on the lengths of the slider axes and the relative positions of the pivot joints thereon. These slider parameters can be suitably selected depending on a transverse width of the vehicle seat guide structure (e.g., the rail width) and the curvature of the curved guide sections. For example, the pivot joints can be arranged approximately at the two ends of the longitudinal slider axis and centrally on the two transverse slider axes.

[0013] The vehicle seat guide structure can, in particular, be a rail integrated into or attached to the vehicle floor or a vehicle wall, which can, for example, extend around the vehicle interior. The vehicle seat guide structure can, in particular—but does not necessarily have to—extend continuously along the vehicle floor, i.e., without interruptions.

[0014] Due to the at least one curved guide section, the at least two interior trim elements can be moved along the vehicle seat guide structure not only linearly and not only in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, but also in two dimensions, and can therefore, for example, also be arranged closer to one another than is possible with known vehicle seat arrangements. Furthermore, it may therefore be possible, for example, for an interior trim element to be moved along the vehicle seat guide structure from a location where it is obstructive or not needed to another location within the vehicle interior, without having to be separated from the vehicle seat guide structure and lifted out of the vehicle.

[0015] In particular, along a common, i.e., uninterrupted, vehicle seat guide structure, the at least two interior trim elements can, in principle, be arranged as close to one another as desired. However, this can also be achieved with an interrupted vehicle seat guide structure, for example, if its two separate guide sections directly adjoin one another at their ends or if they are separated in sections—particularly at their ends—by a distance corresponding to a horizontal dimension of an interior trim element.

[0016] Overall, the vehicle seat arrangement system can enable a largely flexible adaptation of the mutual arrangement of interior trim elements to specific needs while maintaining the vehicle seat guide structure. The ability to move the interior trim elements two-dimensionally along the vehicle seat guide structure and interchange them with each other enables novel interior configuration scenarios to be realized: In addition to the traditional rows of seats, vehicle seats can be moved far enough to allow passengers to sit close to one another, especially without the driver losing their view of the vehicle ahead. Furthermore, temporarily unused vehicle seats can be pushed together to create more space for one or a few passengers. This makes maximum legroom or a reclining position possible even in smaller vehicles. These and many other arrangement scenarios are explained in more detail below.

[0017] On the other hand, the composition of the at least two interior fitting elements can also be varied without changing the vehicle seat guide structure by removing certain interior fitting elements, replacing them with interior fitting elements of a different type or size, or adding them.

[0018] The at least two interior fittings can be identical or different interior fittings, in particular identical or different two, three, four, five, six, or more vehicle seats. Alternatively or additionally, one or more different interior fittings can be provided in addition to the at least one vehicle seat, in particular from the group: table, footrest, partition, screen, mirror, cupboard, refrigerator, camera, coat hook, wardrobe, storage box.

[0019] The vehicle seat guide structure can, due to the at least one curved guide section, in particular comprise the following: - at least one closed guide section, for example in the form of a circle, an elongated oval or a triangle, square or other polygon with rounded corners, and / or - at least one X- or S-shaped guide section and / or - at least two guide sections extending side by side in a vehicle longitudinal direction and / or - at least two guide sections extending side by side in a transverse direction of the vehicle and / or - at least one switch.

[0020] Each of these vehicle seat guide structure configurations can enable additional variations in the arrangement of interior elements, resulting in increased comfort for vehicle occupants. Optional switches, for example, allow for selection between different directions along straight or curved guide sections, or for individual interior elements to be moved into or out of parking sections (described in more detail below).

[0021] In a specific embodiment, the at least one curved guide section can occupy at least 20%, at least 40%, at least 60% or at least 80% of a total horizontal length of the vehicle seat guide structure.

[0022] In particular, the at least one curved guide section can comprise two, three, or four curved sections, with a straight guide section located between each curved section. At least one of these curved sections can occupy at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, or at least 25% of the total horizontal length of the vehicle seat guide structure.

[0023] In a specific embodiment, the vehicle seat guide structure or the at least one curved guide section can be designed symmetrically with respect to a vehicle's longitudinal axis. (As usual, the geometric terms used herein, such as "symmetrical," "horizontal," "longitudinal," "vertical," etc., are by no means mathematically precise, but rather are to be understood in accordance with their customary and technically feasible meaning. They can therefore, in particular, exhibit a possible deviation of up to approximately 10% from the relevant dimensions due to manufacturing or design considerations.) Such symmetry can, for example, enable particularly effective utilization of the available vehicle interior for arranging interior trim elements, since this space itself is generally symmetrical with respect to a vehicle's longitudinal axis.

[0024] Furthermore, the vehicle seat guide structure can comprise at least one parking section for temporarily storing unused interior trim elements. Such a parking section can be arranged, in particular, in a subspace of the vehicle interior that is at least partially separated from the passenger compartment, for example, in the trunk.

[0025] Furthermore, the vehicle seat guide structure may comprise at least one row section for arranging two, three, four or more interior trim elements in a row next to or behind one another with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0026] In a specific embodiment, at least one of the interior trim elements can be attached to the slider so that it can rotate about its own vertical axis. A corresponding rotation angle range can be 360° or even less, for example up to approximately 270°, up to approximately 180°, or up to approximately 90°. By rotating an interior trim element about its own vertical axis, it can be appropriately aligned with respect to the direction of travel, particularly after a non-linear displacement along the vehicle seat guide structure. In particular, interior trim elements, for example vehicle seats, can be rotated relative to one another as needed, especially if they are positioned along a curved guide section or on opposite guide sections.

[0027] It can generally be provided that the respective interior trim element or its slider has a locking device designed to releasably fasten the interior trim element to the vehicle seat guide structure and / or to the vehicle at a specific position along the vehicle seat guide structure. Suitable locking devices, for example, clamping devices actuated by hand levers attached to the interior trim element, are known per se.

[0028] According to a further aspect, a vehicle retrofit kit for a vehicle seat arrangement system of the type described herein is provided, which comprises at least one further interior trim element designed to be connected to and guided on the vehicle seat guide structure. This allows, for example, new or different interior trim elements to be incorporated (e.g., railed in) at a later date into an existing vehicle with a vehicle seat guide structure of the type described herein. The above statements regarding the interior trim elements apply accordingly to such further interior trim elements of a vehicle retrofit kit. In particular, they also have sliders for connecting to and guiding on the vehicle seat guide structure.

[0029] According to another aspect, a motor vehicle having the above vehicle seating arrangement system is provided. Brief description of the drawings

[0030] Embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the examples shown in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are purely schematic and, in particular, are not to be read as being to scale. Identical or corresponding elements bear the same reference numerals in the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle seat arrangement system according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 a schematic plan view of an interior fitting element; and Fig. 3a to 3d show schematic plan views of different arrangement variants of four interior fitting elements in a vehicle seat arrangement system according to a second embodiment. Description of embodiments

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a vehicle 1 with a vehicle seat arrangement system 2 in its vehicle interior 3. In this first exemplary embodiment, the vehicle seat arrangement system 2 comprises a vehicle seat guide structure 4 in the form of a floor rail extending circumferentially within the vehicle interior 3 and having a closed guide section 5, which is represented by solid lines. Purely by way of example, the vehicle seat guide structure 4 can be designed here as a rail extending continuously along the vehicle floor.

[0032] For reasons of clarity, Fig. 1, a single interior fitting element 6 is schematically indicated as representative of the above-mentioned at least two interior fitting elements. The interior fitting element 6 is shown in relation to Fig. 2 described in more detail below.

[0033] In Fig. 1, the vehicle interior 3, which may be delimited in particular by schematically indicated vehicle wheels 7 and a schematically indicated vehicle body 8, is purely exemplary almost completely utilized by the vehicle seat guide structure 4. This can enable a maximum effective use of space, particularly in smaller vehicles, through the flexible arrangement of interior fittings 6 presented herein. The closed guide section 5 is designed in this example as an elongated oval. It has two long, straight, extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction L (dash-dotted line in Fig. 1) guide sections 20, 21 extending side by side, which are connected at their ends by two short, curved, partially extending in a vehicle transverse direction Q (dash two-dot line in Fig. 1) extending guide sections 22, 23 are connected.

[0034] In order to enable as many different displacement and arrangement variants for the interior fittings 6 as possible, the vehicle seat guide structure 4 can have, in addition to the closed guide section 5, one or more optional guide sections which are Fig. 1 are indicated by dashed lines. These can branch off from the closed guide section 5, for example, through optionally provided switches 10.

[0035] So in Fig. 1, an S-shaped guide section 11 is optionally provided, which can additionally connect the two linear guide sections 20, 21 of the closed guide section 5, for example, through an oval center point O. Furthermore, extension sections 12 can be provided at one to all ends of the linear guide sections 20, 21, which can be used, for example, as parking sections (see Fig. 3d). Furthermore, a side section 13 can be provided, for example, branching off laterally from the curved guide section 23 in the driver area of ​​the vehicle interior 3, which can offer additional arrangement positions and / or can be used for railing in further interior fittings 6 and for removing interior fittings 6 from the vehicle 1.

[0036] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of an interior fitting element 6 of the type described herein, which can be mounted, for example, on the Fig. 1. It can be designed as a vehicle seat or any other type of interior fitting, such as a table, footrest, partition, screen, mirror, cupboard, refrigerator, camera, coat hook, wardrobe, or storage box, which is indicated purely symbolically in the figures by a circular disc.

[0037] In this example, the interior fitting element 6 has a slider 14 which is used to connect and guide the interior fitting element 6 to a vehicle seat guide structure 4, for example that of the Fig. 1, is trained. In Fig. 2, the slider 14 comprises three horizontal, approximately H-shaped slider axes: a longitudinal slider axis 15, which can be arranged substantially along the vehicle seat guide structure 4, and two transverse slider axes 16a and 16b, which can be arranged transversely to the vehicle seat guide structure 4 and are each connected to the longitudinal slider axis 15 via a pivot joint 17a or 17b. The pivot joints 17a / 17b allow the horizontal angles between the respective slider axes 15 and 16a or 15 and 16b to adjust automatically when guiding the interior trim element 6 along a curved guide section of the vehicle seat guide structure 4 (cf. Fig. 3b and Fig. 3c). In the example shown, the pivot joints 17a / 17b are arranged approximately at the two ends of the longitudinal slider axis 15 and essentially centrally on the two transverse slider axes 16a and 16b.

[0038] In Fig. 2, the interior fitting element 6 is optionally additionally mounted on the slider 14 so that it can rotate about its own vertical axis 18 (which points perpendicularly out of the plane of the figure). A corresponding rotation angle range can be 360°, for example, in order to be able to freely adjust a viewing direction 19 indicated by a line on the vehicle seat.

[0039] Fig. 3a to 3d show schematic plan views of various arrangements of purely exemplary four interior fitting elements 6 in a vehicle seat arrangement system 2, which, for example, as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Description of similar elements is therefore not repeated here. Purely as an example, the following description of the Fig. 3a-3d show the four interior elements 6 vehicle seats.

[0040] Fig. Figure 3a initially shows an arrangement of the four interior trim elements 6 in conventional seat rows: a front seat row and a rear seat row, each with two interior trim elements 6 arranged side by side relative to the vehicle's longitudinal direction L. This is possible in particular due to the symmetrical design of the vehicle seat guide structure 4 relative to the vehicle's longitudinal direction L.

[0041] As in Fig. As illustrated by way of example in Figures 3b-3d, the interior trim elements 6 in the vehicle 1 can now be displaced two-dimensionally along the vehicle seat guide structure 4, i.e., not only along the two linear guide sections 20, 21 of the closed guide section 5, but also along its two curved guide sections 22 and 23, and can be interchanged with one another in a non-linear manner. In particular, the interior trim elements 6 do not need to be lifted from the vehicle seat guide structure 4. This enables, for example, the following novel trim scenarios in the vehicle interior 3:

[0042] In Fig. 3b are compared to the Fig. 3a, all four interior fittings 6 have been moved counterclockwise along the closed guide section 5 by one position. As Fig. As shown in Figure 3b, the four interior fitting elements 6 can be arranged so that the occupants can sit next to each other, in particular without an occupant marked with F, for example the driver, losing his view to the front (indicated by viewing direction 19). This is ensured in particular by the rotatability of the interior fitting elements 6 about their own vertical axes 18 with respect to the respective sliders 14 ( Fig. 2).

[0043] How Fig. 3c shows, some, in this example three, interior fitting elements 6 can be pushed together to such an extent that an enlarged space is created for the occupant marked with F. Maximum legroom or a lying position can thus be possible even in smaller vehicles 1. The linear guide section 20 of the vehicle seat guide structure 4 forms Fig. 3c a row section for arranging three interior fitting elements 6 in a row one behind the other with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction L.

[0044] In Fig. 3d, the rear extension sections 12 of the linear guide sections 20, 21, relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction L, form parking sections for stowing / parking two temporarily unused interior fittings 6. These parking sections can be arranged in particular in a partial space 25 of the vehicle interior 3 that is at least partially separated from the passenger compartment, for example in a trunk. Fig. 3d, the remaining two interior elements 6 form a single row of seats.

[0045] As in Fig. 1 and 3a-3d, the composition of the at least two interior fitting elements 6 can also be varied without changing the vehicle seat guide structure 4 by replacing certain interior fitting elements 6, for example, by the optional extension sections 12 or the Fig. 1 shown laterally branching side section 13 can be removed, replaced by interior fittings 6 of a different type or size, or added.

[0046] In the examples shown, the curved guide sections can, for example, individually occupy between approximately 10% and approximately 20% and in total between approximately 20% and approximately 40% of a total horizontal length of the vehicle seat guide structure 4. List of reference symbols 1 vehicle 2 Vehicle seating arrangement system 3 Vehicle interior 4 Vehicle seat guide structure 5 closed guide section 6 Interior element 7 vehicle wheel 8 Vehicle body 10 Switch 11 S-shaped guide section 12 extension sections 13 side branching section 14 gliders 15 Longitudinal slider axis 16a, 16b transverse slider axes 17a, 17b Swivel joints 18 Vertical axis of the interior element 19 Viewing direction 20, 21 straight guide sections of the closed guide section 22, 23 curved guide sections of the closed guide section 25 Part of the vehicle interior

Claims

[1] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) for a vehicle interior (3), comprising - at least two interior fittings (6), at least one of which is a vehicle seat, and - a vehicle seat guide structure (4) extending along a vehicle floor and having at least one curved guide section (11, 22, 23), wherein the vehicle seat guide structure (4) is designed for two-dimensionally guiding and displacing the at least two interior trim elements (6) along the vehicle floor and relative to one another, wherein each of the at least two interior trim elements (6) has a slider (14) designed to connect and guide the interior trim element (6) to the vehicle seat guide structure (4), wherein the slider (14) comprises at least two horizontal slider axes (15, 16a, 16b), at least two of which are connected via a pivot joint (17a, 17b) for varying a horizontal angle therebetween. [2] Vehicle seat assembly system (2) according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat guide structure (4) extends continuously along the vehicle floor. [3] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least two interior trim elements (6) comprise two, three, four, five, six or more vehicle seats. [4] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two interior fitting elements (6) comprise one or more other types of interior fitting elements (6) in addition to the at least one vehicle seat. [5] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle seat guide structure (4) - at least one closed guide section (5) and / or - at least one X- or S-shaped guide section (11) and / or - at least two guide sections (20, 21) extending side by side in a vehicle longitudinal direction (L) and / or - at least two guide sections (22, 23) extending side by side in a vehicle transverse direction (Q) and / or - comprises at least one switch (10). [6] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one curved guide section (11, 22, 23) occupies at least 20%, at least 40%, at least 60% or at least 80% of a total horizontal length of the vehicle seat guide structure (4). [7] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one curved guide section (11, 22, 23) comprises two, three or four curved sections (11, 22, 23) each merging into rectilinear guide sections (20, 21). [8] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle seat guide structure (4) or the at least one curved guide section (11, 22, 23) is symmetrical with respect to a vehicle longitudinal axis. [9] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle seat guide structure (4) comprises at least one parking section (12) for parking unused interior fitting elements (6). [10] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle seat guide structure (4) comprises at least one row section (20) for arranging two, three, four or more interior trim elements (6) in a row next to or behind one another. [11] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two slider axes (15, 16a, 16b) represent three approximately H-shaped slider axes (15, 16a, 16b), of which a longitudinal slider axis (15) is arranged along the vehicle seat guide structure (4) and is connected via a rotary joint (17a, 17b) to one of two transverse slider axes (16a, 16b) arranged transversely to the vehicle seat guide structure (4). [12] Vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least one of the interior fitting elements (6) is mounted rotatably about its own vertical axis (18) relative to the slider (14). [13] Vehicle retrofit kit for a vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one further interior trim element (6) which is designed to be connected to and guided on the vehicle seat guide structure (4), wherein each of the further interior trim elements (6) has a slider (14) for connecting and guiding the further interior trim element (6) on the vehicle seat guide structure (4). [14] Motor vehicle (1) with a vehicle seat arrangement system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 12.

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