Foldable vehicle seat arrangement

Abstract

A foldable vehicle seat arrangement (2) comprising at least one seat shell (22) pivotable about a seat shell pivot axis (y2) and at least one seat back (24) associated therewith and pivotable about a backrest pivot axis (y1), and comprising a driven folding kinematic mechanism (3) coupling the seat shell (22) and the seat back (24) to each other, wherein the vehicle seat arrangement (2) is changeable between a folded storage position and an upright usable position, wherein the folding kinematic mechanism (3) comprises a first coupling element (40) which is pivotably mounted at its first end (40') in a first coupling element bearing (41) fixed to the vehicle structure about the backrest pivot axis (y1) and is pivotably mounted at its second end (40'') in a second coupling element bearing (43) on the seat back (24) about the seat shell pivot axis (y2) parallel to the backrest pivot axis (y1), characterized by that the folding kinematics (3) has a second coupling element (42) separate from the first coupling element (40), which is pivotably mounted with its first end (42') in the second coupling element bearing (43) about the seat shell pivot axis (y2) and is pivotally mounted with its second end (42'') in a third coupling element bearing (45) on the seat shell (22) about a front coupling element pivot axis (y3) parallel to the backrest pivot axis (y1), that the folding kinematics (3) has a third coupling element (44) separate from the second coupling element (42), which is pivotably mounted with its first end (44') in the third coupling element bearing (45) about the front coupling element pivot axis (y3) and is pivotally mounted with its second end (44'') in a fourth coupling element bearing (47) formed on a translation element (46) about a translation pivot axis (y4) parallel to the backrest pivot axis (y1), and that the translation element (46) is movable along a vehicle structure fixed motion path (48).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a foldable vehicle seat arrangement according to the preamble of patent claim 1. It further relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with at least one such foldable vehicle seat arrangement.

[0002] In large-capacity vehicles, station wagons, or so-called SUVs (sports utility vehicles), a foldable vehicle seat assembly is often additionally provided in a load compartment or trunk compartment located behind a permanent rear vehicle seat assembly. When not in use, this foldable vehicle seat assembly is housed in a recess beneath the load compartment and occupies a folded storage position there. The rear wall of the seat back often forms part of the load compartment floor. When folded out and unfolded, the foldable vehicle seat assembly assumes an upright use position, with the recess forming a footwell for passengers sitting on the foldable vehicle seat assembly facing the direction of travel.Such a foldable vehicle seat arrangement can also be provided in so-called Pullman limousines with a long wheelbase and thus a long passenger compartment as a middle row of seats facing in the direction of travel or against the direction of travel.

[0003] Such foldable vehicle seat assemblies must be secured against collapse in the event of a crash when folded out and unfolded. This means that it must be ensured that in the event of a vehicle collision, the seat shell does not sink into its stowed position due to the inertial forces acting on it from a passenger sitting on it.

[0004] Traditionally, the folding kinematics of the foldable vehicle seat assembly are designed as a four-bar linkage and equipped with a locking mechanism that securely locks the seat shell in its use position. However, such a locking mechanism requires a considerable amount of space beneath the seat shell and thus a deep recess beneath the cargo area. Particularly in battery-electric vehicles with an underfloor arrangement of the electrical energy storage units and the associated infrastructure, only a small amount of space is available for a recess that accommodates the foldable vehicle seat assembly in its stowed position.

[0005] FR 2 886 590 A1 discloses a foldable vehicle seat assembly for an automobile in which the seat shell and the seat backrest can be pivoted about respective pivot axes and, coupled to one another by a folding mechanism, can be moved forward from an upright use position to a folded storage position. The folding mechanism comprises a lever arrangement, one end of which is fixed to the vehicle and the other end of which is pivotally mounted on the seat backrest.

[0006] DE 10 2007 017 260 B4 shows and describes a vehicle rear seat which can be pivoted from an upright use position into a folded storage position, in which the seat shell is coupled to the vehicle structure in its front area via a pivot lever and is hinged to the forward-pivoting seat backrest in its rear area via a toggle lever.

[0007] DE 199 57 380 C1 shows and describes a vehicle seat whose seat shell has a lever pivotably mounted on the seat shell in its front area, the opposite end of which is slidably mounted in a longitudinal rail fixed to the vehicle. The seat shell is pivotally connected at its rear end to the seat backrest, which can be pivoted forward.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a generic foldable vehicle seat arrangement which can be folded significantly more compactly in its stowed position.

[0009] This object is achieved by a foldable vehicle seat arrangement having the features of patent claim 1.

[0010] A foldable vehicle seat arrangement with at least one seat shell pivotable about a seat shell pivot axis and at least one seat back associated therewith and pivotable about a backrest pivot axis, as well as with a drivable folding kinematics coupling the seat shell and the seat back to one another, wherein the vehicle seat arrangement is changeable between a folded storage position and an upright use position, wherein the folding kinematics comprises a first coupling member which is pivotably mounted with its first end in a first coupling member bearing fixed to the vehicle structure about the backrest pivot axis and is pivotably mounted with its second end in a second coupling member bearing on the seat back about the seat shell pivot axis parallel to the backrest pivot axis, is characterized in that the folding kinematics comprises a second coupling member separate from the first coupling member,which is pivotally mounted with its first end in the second coupling link bearing about the seat shell pivot axis and is pivotally mounted with its second end in a third coupling link bearing on the seat shell about a front coupling link pivot axis parallel to the backrest pivot axis, that the folding kinematics has a third coupling link separate from the second coupling link, which is pivotally mounted with its first end in the third coupling link bearing about the front coupling link pivot axis and is pivotally mounted with its second end in a fourth coupling link bearing formed on a translation element about a translation pivot axis parallel to the backrest pivot axis, and that the translation element is movable along a movement path fixed to the vehicle structure.

[0011] The folding kinematics of this inventive foldable vehicle seat assembly no longer have a four-bar linkage and do not require a separate locking mechanism, thus making it more compact. The provision of the translation element, which can be moved along the fixed vehicle structure's path of motion, as a bearing block of the folding kinematics, gives the entire folding kinematics an additional degree of freedom at this movable bearing point compared to a four-bar linkage, thereby reducing the risk of acute collapse in the event of a crash, since the sliding friction of the translation element creates a braking resistance.

[0012] Further preferred and advantageous design features of the foldable vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention are the subject of subclaims 2 to 7.

[0013] Preferably, the movement path is linear and orthogonal to the translational pivot axis.

[0014] It is particularly advantageous if the translation element can be driven by a translation actuator for movement along the movement path. This allows the folding and unfolding of the foldable vehicle seat assembly to be accomplished by means of the translation actuator, which forms a servo drive.

[0015] Preferably, the translation element is a moving element of a linear drive forming the translation actuator.

[0016] The linear drive is preferably formed by a linear motor or it has a linear motor.

[0017] Alternatively, the translation element is coupled to the seat back via a force transmission arrangement, with the seat back, which can be pivoted manually or by means of a backrest actuator, forming the translation actuator for the translation element. Pivoting the seat back thus displaces the translation element and automatically lowers the seat shell into the recess or raises it out of the recess.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the foldable vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention, which can be combined with other embodiments, the third coupling element, in the use position, assumes an angle relative to the perpendicular direction to the front edge of the seat shell, and the movement path of the translation element has a movement limiting means at its end facing the front edge of the seat shell. With this geometry, the vertical position of the third coupling element forms a dead center, and the third coupling element, in the claimed use position, assumes an over-dead center position, in which the translation element is supported against the movement limiting means when a passenger's weight force acts on the seat shell in the direction of gravity. This prevents the folding kinematics from collapsing in the event of a crash and the seat shell from inadvertently sinking into the recess.

[0019] The invention is also directed to a vehicle, in particular to a motor vehicle, with at least one foldable vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention.

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the invention with additional design details and further advantages are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] It shows: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a foldable vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention in the use position and Fig. 2 a schematic side view of the foldable vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention in the stowed position.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a schematic detail of a retractable vehicle seat 20 of a foldable vehicle seat arrangement 2 according to the invention in a motor vehicle 1 in a use position in which the vehicle seat 20 is folded out of a recess 11 in or in front of a loading compartment floor 10 of the motor vehicle 1 and can be used by a passenger for sitting. In a Fig. In the folded storage position shown in Figure 2, the retractable vehicle seat 20 is accommodated in the recess 11.

[0023] The vehicle seat 20 has a lower seat shell 22 and a foldable seat back 24, which, together with a folding kinematics 3 for the vehicle seat 20, form a mechanical structure of the foldable vehicle seat assembly 2. Naturally, the seat shell 22 and the seat back 24 are provided with a cushion (not shown) in the usual manner. The folding kinematics 3 has an actuating kinematics 4 or is coupled to such an actuating kinematics.

[0024] The seat back 24 is provided with a respective lateral backrest support cheek, of which only the left backrest support cheek 26 is shown in the figures and described below; the following explanations apply accordingly to the right backrest support cheek. The left backrest support cheek 26 is pivotally mounted in a left backrest pivot bearing 25 provided on the structure 12 of the motor vehicle 1 about a backrest pivot axis y1, which in the example shown extends in the vehicle transverse direction Y.

[0025] The lower seat shell 22 of the vehicle seat 20 is provided at its backrest-side end section 22' with a lateral seat shell bearing cheek, of which only the left seat shell bearing cheek 23 is shown in the figures and described below; the following explanations apply accordingly to the right seat shell bearing cheek. The left seat shell bearing cheek 23 is pivotally mounted about a seat shell pivot axis y2 in a left seat shell pivot bearing 27 provided on the associated left backrest bearing cheek 26. The seat shell pivot bearing 27 is located - viewed in the upright state of the seat back 24 (in the use position) - above the backrest pivot bearing 25 and is offset rearward, i.e., pointing away from the seat shell 22.

[0026] In its front area 22", the seat shell 22 is provided on its underside with a lever mechanism 30 of the folding kinematics 3, which is formed between the seat shell 22 and the structure 12 of the motor vehicle 1 and couples the seat shell 22 to the structure 12 of the motor vehicle 1 in such a way that the seat shell 22 can be moved forwards and downwards from its upright use position into the recess 11 into the folded storage position and also out of this position again.

[0027] The actuating kinematics 4 for the folding kinematics 3 of the vehicle seat assembly 2 are only schematically illustrated in the figures by coupling elements 40, 42, 44 shown as straight coupling rods. Instead of these linear coupling rods, other designed or shaped compression-resistant force transmission elements can of course also be provided as coupling elements.

[0028] A first coupling member 40 is pivotably mounted with its first end 40' in a first coupling member bearing 41 fixed to the vehicle structure about the backrest pivot axis y1 and is pivotably mounted with its second end 40" in a second coupling member bearing 43 on the seat back 24 about the seat shell pivot axis y2 parallel to the backrest pivot axis y1.

[0029] The folding kinematics 4 further comprises a second coupling link 42 which is separate from the first coupling link 40 and which is pivotably mounted with its first end 42' in the second coupling link bearing 43 about the seat shell pivot axis y2 and relative to the first coupling link 40, and with its second end 42" in a third coupling link bearing 45 formed on the seat shell 22 or on an element 32 of the lever mechanism 30 close to the seat, functionally pivotably mounted on the seat shell 22 in the front region thereof about a front coupling link pivot axis y3 parallel to the backrest pivot axis y1.

[0030] Finally, the folding kinematics 4 also has a third coupling link 44 which is separate from the second coupling link 42 and which is pivotally mounted with its first end 44' in the third coupling link bearing 45 about the front coupling link pivot axis y3 and relative to the second coupling link 42, and which is pivotally mounted with its second end 44" in a fourth coupling link bearing 47 formed on a translation element 46 about a translation pivot axis y4 parallel to the backrest pivot axis y1. The translation element 46 is movable along a movement path 48 which is fixed to the vehicle structure and extends linearly orthogonally to the translation pivot axis y4.

[0031] The movement path 48 for the translation element 46 is provided at its end facing the front edge 22''' of the seat shell 22 with a movement limiting means 49 against which the translation element 46 can be supported and which, in the event of a collision of the motor vehicle 1 with an obstacle, can effectively support high collision-induced inertial forces of a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat 20 of the vehicle seat arrangement 2 and can introduce them into the structure 12 of the motor vehicle 1. The third coupling member 44 extends for this purpose in the use position ( Fig. 1) from the third coupling link bearing 45 to a vertical plane Ez determining the front edge 22''' of the seat shell 22 and forms an acute angle α relative to a vertical direction Z through the third coupling link bearing 45.

[0032] The translation element 46 is movable along the movement path 48 by means of a translation actuator 5, which is only shown schematically in the figures. In a first embodiment, the translation actuator 5 comprises a linear drive 50 formed by a linear motor 52 or is coupled to a linear drive 50. The translation element 46 is a moving element of the linear drive 50.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment of the foldable vehicle seat assembly according to the invention, not shown in the figures, the translation element 46 is not provided with or coupled to a linear drive comprising a linear motor, but is coupled to the seat back 24 via a force transmission arrangement. The seat back 24, which can be pivoted manually or by means of a backrest actuator 54, forms the translation actuator for the translation element 46.

[0034] By a movement of the translation element 46 along the movement path 48, which movement does not necessarily have to be linear but at least as a component has an extension in the vehicle longitudinal direction X, which is acted upon by the translation actuator 5 in one of the two above embodiments, the coupling members 44, 42, 40 are forcibly actuated and thereby move the seat shell 22 and the seat back 24 about their respective pivot axes y1, y2 - with a movement of the translation element in a direction pointing away from the vehicle seat back from the Fig. 2 shown storage position into the Fig. 1 shown useful position and when the translation element moves in the opposite direction from the position shown in Fig. 1 shown use position into the one shown in Fig. 2, in which the rear wall 24' of the seat back 24 forms part or a continuation of the loading compartment floor 10 of the motor vehicle 1. List of reference symbols 1 motor vehicle 2 foldable vehicle seat arrangement 3 Folding kinematics 4 Actuation kinematics 5 Translation actuator 10 Loading compartment floor 11 trough 12 Structure 20 retractable vehicle seat 22 lower seat shell 22' backrest end section 22'' front area of ​​the seat shell 22''' front edge of the seat shell 23 left seat shell bearing cheek 24 folding seat back 24' back wall 25 backrest swivel bearings 26 Backrest support cheek 27 left seat shell pivot bearing 30 lever gears 40 first coupling link 40' first end of the coupling link 40 40'' second end of the coupling link 40 41 first coupling link bearing 42 second coupling link 42' first end of the coupling link 42 42'' second end of the coupling link 42 43 second coupling link bearing 44 third coupling link 44' first end of the coupling link 44 44'' second end of the coupling link 44 45 third coupling link bearing 46 Translation element 47 fourth coupling link bearing 48 Movement path 48' End of trajectory 49 Movement limiting devices 50 linear actuators 52 linear motor 54 Backrest actuator Ez vertical plane y1 backrest swivel axis y2 seat shell pivot axis y3 front coupling link pivot axis y4 translational swivel axis X Vehicle longitudinal direction Y vehicle transverse direction Z vertical direction

Claims

[1] A foldable vehicle seat arrangement (2) comprising at least one seat shell (22) pivotable about a seat shell pivot axis (y2) and at least one seat back (24) associated therewith and pivotable about a backrest pivot axis (y1), as well as a drivable folding kinematics (3) coupling the seat shell (22) and the seat back (24) to one another, wherein the vehicle seat arrangement (2) is variable between a folded storage position and an upright use position, wherein the folding kinematics (3) comprises a first coupling member (40) which is pivotably mounted with its first end (40') in a first coupling member bearing (41) fixed to the vehicle structure about the backrest pivot axis (y1) and is pivotably mounted with its second end (40'') in a second coupling member bearing (43) on the seat back (24) about the seat shell pivot axis (y2) parallel to the backrest pivot axis (y1). is, characterized by , that the folding kinematics (3) has a second coupling member (42) separate from the first coupling member (40), which is pivotally mounted with its first end (42') in the second coupling member bearing (43) about the seat shell pivot axis (y2) and is pivotally mounted with its second end (42'') in a third coupling member bearing (45) on the seat shell (22) about a front coupling member pivot axis (y3) parallel to the backrest pivot axis (y1), that the folding kinematics (3) has a third coupling member (44) which is separate from the second coupling member (42) and which is pivotally mounted with its first end (44') in the third coupling member bearing (45) about the front coupling member pivot axis (y3) and is pivotally mounted with its second end (44'') in a fourth coupling member bearing (47) formed on a translation element (46) about a translation pivot axis (y4) parallel to the backrest pivot axis (y1), and that the translation element (46) can be moved along a movement path (48) fixed to the vehicle structure. [2] A foldable vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1, characterized by that the movement path is linear and orthogonal to the translational pivot axis (y4). [3] A foldable vehicle seat assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the translation element (46) can be driven by means of a translation actuator (5) for movement along the movement path (48). [4] Foldable vehicle seat arrangement according to claims 2 and 3, characterized by that the translation element (46) is a moving element of a linear drive (50) forming the translation actuator (5). [5] A foldable vehicle seat assembly according to claim 4, characterized by that the linear drive (50) is formed by a linear motor (52) or has such a motor. [6] A foldable vehicle seat assembly according to claim 3, characterized byin that the translation element (46) is coupled to the seat back (24) via a force transmission arrangement, wherein the seat back (24), which can be pivoted manually or by means of a backrest actuator (54), forms the translation actuator (5) for the translation element (46). [7] A foldable vehicle seat arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the third coupling member (44) in the use position assumes an angle (α) directed relative to the vertical direction (Z) to the front edge (22''') of the seat shell (22) and that the movement path (48) of the translation element (46) has a movement limiting means (49) at its end (48') pointing towards the front edge (22''') of the seat shell (22). [8] Vehicle, in particular motor vehicle, with at least one foldable vehicle seat arrangement (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

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