Row of seats with under-seat storage

Abstract

The invention relates to a row (1) of seats (12, 15) comprising at least one seat (13, 16), at least one backrest (14, 17) foldable onto the seat (13, 16), and an anti-submarining bar (2) placed in said at least one seat (13, 16), this seat (13, 16) having a front area (18, 19) capable of pivoting forward about an axis of rotation (9) extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle to allow said at least one backrest (14, 17) to extend horizontally onto the seat (13, 16). According to the invention, pivoting forward the front area (18, 19) of the seat (13, 16) allows the anti-submarine bar (2) to be exposed, said anti-submarine bar (2) being hollow and having at least one cover (20, 21) capable of moving from a closed position in which it closes the anti-submarine bar (2) to an open position in which it allows access to an interior space of said anti-submarine bar (2).Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 4.

Description

Title of the invention: Row of seats with storage under the seat technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a row of seats with storage under the seat. A row of seats according to the invention is a generic term that can refer to: -two or three seats placed separately, each with a seat and backrest that can be operated independently of each other, or -a bench seat with two or three seats and a single backrest and a single seat, or -a set of seats comprising an individual seat having its own backrest and seat, and a mini two-seater bench having a single seat and a single backrest, said mini bench and said seat being placed side by side.

[0002] In order to better understand the positioning of the different parts involved in a vehicle according to the invention, the description is made with reference to a direct orthonormal frame XYZ in which X is a front-to-back longitudinal axis of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, Y is a transverse axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and Z is a vertical axis directed upwards.

[0003] In order to remove any ambiguity, when it is mentioned that the backrest extends horizontally, it is assumed that the row of seats according to the invention is placed in a vehicle resting itself on a horizontal ground.

[0004] A row of seats according to the invention has the particularity of having at least one seat cushion, the front section of which can be folded forward by pivoting to allow the backrest located directly above this seat cushion to pivot forward until it comes into contact with said seat cushion. Indeed, retracting the front section of the seat cushion allows the backrest to rest against the seat cushion by extending in a horizontal plane, thus increasing the available space in the vehicle for loading bulky items into the trunk, which can then be placed on said backrest.

[0005] For such a seat row configuration, it has been observed that the space freed up in the vehicle by pivoting the front area of ​​the seat could constitute additional storage space.

[0006] A row of seats according to the invention has at least one seat, the front area of ​​which is designed to pivot forward to allow the corresponding backrest to fold down onto the seat by extending horizontally, while creating additional storage space.

[0007] The invention relates to a row of seats comprising at least one seat, at least one backrest that can be folded down onto the seat, and an anti-submarining bar placed in said at least one seat, this seat having a front area capable of pivoting forward about an axis of rotation extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle to allow said at least one backrest to extend horizontally onto the seat.

[0008] According to the invention, pivoting the front section of the seat forward exposes the anti-submarine bar. This anti-submarine bar is hollow and has at least one cover that can be moved from a closed position, in which it closes the anti-submarine bar, to an open position, in which it provides access to an interior space within the anti-submarine bar. The front section of the seat, also called the seat nose, is generally slightly raised relative to the rest of the seat, preventing the corresponding backrest, once folded down against the seat, from extending horizontally. Retracting this front section under the seat allows the backrest to extend horizontally when it is resting against the seat. If the seat is equipped with an anti-submarine bar, pivoting the front section of the seat forward exposes this anti-submarine bar.Since no one is required to sit on the seat in this seating configuration within the vehicle, the anti-submarining bar is temporarily rendered useless. Given the increasing scarcity of storage space in vehicles, and because this anti-submarining bar is generally hollow to reduce vehicle weight, a row of seats according to the invention has been slightly modified to transform this anti-submarining bar into a storage space. To achieve this, at least one movable cover has been mounted on the anti-submarining bar, with a closed position in which it seals an internal space within the bar, and an open position in which it moves from its closed position to allow access to this internal space.The anti-submarining bar may comprise either a single cover extending over at least 70% of its length, or several covers continuous with one another and operable independently. This cover may move between the closed and open positions by rotation or translation, or by a combination of these two movements. In the closed position, the cover is perfectly continuous with the rest of the anti-submarining bar so that the latter can fully perform its safety function with respect to a person seated on said seat, without the position of said cover altering the overall geometry of said bar. Advantageously, the anti-submarining bar extends over the entire length of said row of seats. Preferably, the anti-submarining bar is compartmentalized and has several separate compartments along an Ion- axis. gitudinal of this. A row of seats can, for example, be presented in the form of: -two or three separate seats placed side by side, each of said seats having a seat and a backrest that can be manipulated independently of those of the other seats, or -a bench seat with two or three seats and a single backrest and seat, or -an individual seat having its own backrest and its own seat, and a mini two-seater bench comprising a single seat and a single backrest or two seats and two seats, said mini bench and said seat being placed side by side.

[0009] According to one possible feature of the invention, said at least one cover is rotatably mounted on the anti-submarine bar about an axis of rotation extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle. In other words, this axis of rotation extends along a longitudinal axis of the anti-submarine bar. In this way, such a cover can be easily handled without requiring any particular effort or awkward contortions. Preferably, the cover is equipped with a locking push button that allows said cover to be securely fastened to the anti-submarine bar; slight manual pressure applied to said button then unlocks said cover, placing it in the open position.

[0010] According to one possible feature of the invention, said at least one cover is elongated and positioned in an upper part of the anti-submarine bar, in the closed position said at least one cover extending horizontally over the anti-submarine bar and in the open position extending vertically over said anti-submarine bar. The cover is optimally positioned on the anti-submarine bar so as to be easily handled and to allow a person direct access to an internal space of the anti-submarine bar. Advantageously, the cover includes locking means in the open position allowing it to be stabilized in this position.

[0011] According to one possible feature of the invention, the row of seats comprises three individual seats, each having a seat and backrest that can be manipulated separately. A front area of ​​each seat is capable of pivoting forward about an axis of rotation extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle. The anti-submarine bar extends along the three seats and has three separate covers continuous with each other, each cover extending along the seat of one seat. For this row of seats configuration, the anti-submarine bar has three covers aligned along a longitudinal axis of the anti-submarine bar without any separation between them. Elongated objects, such as a canopy, can then be stowed in the anti-submarining bar.

[0012] According to one possible feature of the invention, the row of seats comprises a two-seater bench having a single backrest and at least one seat, and an individual seat comprising a backrest and a seat, the seat of the individual seat and said at least one seat of said bench each having a front area capable of pivoting forward, the anti-submarining bar extending along the bench and the individual seat and having at least two separate and continuous covers, one of which extends under the individual seat and at least one other of which extends under the bench. For this configuration, the two-seater bench has a common backrest and either a single seat extending along the entire length of the bench, or two independent seats, each corresponding to one seat of said bench.

[0013] According to a possible feature of the invention, the two-seater bench comprises a single seat extending along the entire length of said bench and of which a front area is capable of pivoting forward, the anti-submarine bar having a single cover extending along the entire length of said two-seater bench.

[0014] According to a possible feature of the invention, the two-seater bench comprises two separate seats in continuity with each other, extending along the entire length of said bench, the front area of ​​said two seats being able to pivot forward, the anti-submarining bar having two separate covers in continuity with each other, extending along the entire length of said two-seater bench.

[0015] According to one possible feature of the invention, the two-seater bench has an end seat and a central seat located between said end seat and the individual seat, an electric battery switch emerging from an internal surface of the anti-submarine bar under the central seat, said switch being accessible by opening the cover located under said central seat. In addition to its function as a storage space, the anti-submarine bar can serve as a support for various vehicle equipment, such as a battery switch, in order to facilitate quick access to this equipment. Usually, such a battery switch is difficult to access, and relocating it to the anti-submarine bar makes it easier to access.

[0016] According to a possible feature of the invention, the cover placed under the central space is a metal box.

[0017] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising at least one row of seats according to the invention.

[0018] In said vehicle, said row of seats is a row of row 2 or row 3.

[0019] A row of seats according to the invention has the advantage of having an anti-submarine bar extending along the entire length of said row of seats, and having a dual function: -an original safety function to help keep a person seated in a seat in the event of an accidental vehicle collision, -an original storage function, if the front area of ​​the seat can be pivoted forward beforehand to allow it to fold down onto the seat by extending horizontally.

[0020] It also has the advantage of possessing this additional storage functionality without being heavier or bulkier. Finally, it offers the advantage of being able to accommodate long and bulky items such as a sunshade when the vehicle is positioned in an optimized storage configuration with the seatbacks of a row of seats in front of the trunk folded down.

[0021] A detailed description of three preferred embodiments of a row of seats according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0022] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a row of seats according to the invention, showing two backrest positions and two seat positions,

[0023] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a cross-sectional view of a row of seats according to the invention, a front area of ​​the seat being pivoted forwards and a cover of the anti-submarining bar being opened and said bar being empty,

[0024] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is the view of [Fig.2] in which the anti-submarining bar is filled with an object,

[0025] [Fig.4] Fig.4 is a perspective view of a row of seats according to the invention in a 1 / 3 2 / 3 configuration, with a front area of ​​the seats pivoted forward and the covers of the anti-submarining bar open, a cover being stowed in said anti-submarining bar,

[0026] [Fig.5] Fig.5 is a perspective view from another angle of the row of seats [Fig. 4], with the backrest of the single seat folded down onto the corresponding seat cushion, and the cover of the anti-submarining bar of the two-seater bench open,

[0027] [Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a row of seats according to the invention In a 1 / 3 2 / 3 configuration, the two-seater bench has two seats, the cover of the single seat is open, and the anti-submarining bar reveals a battery switch.

[0028] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is the view of [Fig.6], with the single seat cover closed.

[0029] [Fig.8] Fig.8 is a cross-section of the bench shown in Figures 6 and 7. revealing the battery switch,

[0030] [Fig.9] Fig.9 is a front view of a bench according to the invention, the covers of the anti-submarine bar were open, revealing a fuel tank.

[0031] To better understand the orientation and positioning of the different elements constituting a row 1 of seats according to the invention, we assume that said row 1 of seats is mounted in a vehicle extending along a transverse axis Y of the latter.

[0032] A row of seats 1 according to the invention is a generic term that can designate: -two or three seats placed separately and each having a seat and a backrest that can be manipulated separately from each other, or -a bench seat with two or three seats and a single backrest and a single seat, or -a set of seats comprising an individual seat having its own backrest and seat, and a mini two-seater bench having a single seat and a single backrest, said mini bench and said seat being placed side by side.

[0033] These are illustrative examples within the scope of the present invention, but are by no means limiting.

[0034] The principle of a row 1 of seats according to the invention is that the seats and / or benches constituting it have seats with a front section that can pivot forward to expose an anti-submarining bar 2 extending along the entire length of the row of seats, said anti-submarining bar 2 having at least one access cover. In this way, the anti-submarining bar 2, which extends along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, can serve as a storage space within a vehicle.

[0035] With reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, a seat 12 or a bench seat 15 of a row 1 of seats according to the invention comprises a seat 13, 16 and a backrest 14, 17 which folds down onto said seat 13, 16. Indeed, the backrest 14, 17 is mounted articulated around an axis 7 extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, and can therefore move from a functional position in which it extends slightly rearward with respect to a vertical direction, to a folded position in which it overlaps the seat 13, 16. In the functional position, the backrest 14, 17 allows an individual to sit comfortably on the seat 12 or on the bench seat 15, and in the folded position it allows bulky objects to be loaded into a rear trunk of the vehicle, a portion of said objects that can then rest on said folded back 14, 17.However, the seat 13, 16 tends not to be perfectly horizontal, because often a front section 18, 19 of it is raised, and the backrest 14, 17 therefore cannot extend horizontally in the folded position. To overcome this difficulty, the front section 18, 19 of the seat 13, 16 is mounted to pivot around a lower axis 9 of rotation of the seat 13, 16 extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. The front section 18, 19 of the seat 13, 16 can thus move from a first position in which it contributes to forming the seat 13, 16, to a second position in which it has pivoted approximately 180° forward around said axis 9 of rotation. lower, as indicated by arrow 10 in figures 1, 2 and 3, to find oneself in front of said seat 13, 16 resting on a floor of said vehicle.

[0036] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 8, once the front area 18, 19 of the seat 13, 16 is in the second position, the backrest 14, 17 can pivot forward in the direction indicated by arrow 11 to come into contact with the truncated seat 13, 16 and extend in a horizontal plane.

[0037] With reference to the various figures in this application, the forward pivoting of the front area 18, 19 of the seat 13, 16 makes it possible to uncover an anti-submarining bar 2 which was previously covered by said seat 13, 16 before said front area 18, 19 pivoted forward.

[0038] With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, a first embodiment of a front row 1 of seats according to the invention comprises an individual seat 12 having a seat 13 and a backrest 14, and a two-seater bench 15 having a single seat 16 and a single backrest 17. A front area 18 of the seat 13 of the individual seat 12 and a front area 19 of the seat 16 of the bench 15 are pivotable forward to allow the respective backrests 14, 17 of said individual seat 12 and of said bench 15 to extend horizontally on the corresponding seats 13, 16. Referring to [Fig.4], pivoting forward the front areas 18, 19 of the individual seat 12 and the bench seat 15 reveals an anti-submarining bar 2 extending along the entire length of row 1 of seats.This anti-submarine bar 2 is hollow and has two covers 20, 21 mounted for rotation on said bar 2 around two axes of rotation located in continuity with each other and extending along a longitudinal axis of this anti-submarine bar 2. These two covers 20, 21 are in line with each other without being separated by any thickness, and can move by pivoting from a closed position for which they extend horizontally and close off the top of the anti-submarine bar 2, to an open position for which they extend vertically and allow access to an internal space of said bar 2. These two covers 20, 21 extend over the entire length of the anti-submarine bar 2, and are manipulable independently of each other. In other words, the opening or closing of one has no influence on the opening or closing of the other.Of these two covers, a first cover 20 extends over the entire length of the individual seat 12 and a second cover 21 extends over the entire length of the two-seater bench 15, the length being their dimension considered along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle.

[0039] Referring to [Fig.4], when the two covers 20, 21 are in an open position, they allow access to the entire internal space delimited by the anti-submarining bar 2.

[0040] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, a cover 22 can be stored inside the anti-submarining bar 2, the length of the cover 22 being slightly less than that of said bar 2 in order to be able to be completely included in it.

[0041] Referring to [Fig.5], the individual seat 12 and the two-seater bench 15 of the row of seats 1 illustrated in [Fig.4] can have headrests 23, 24, 25 without these disturbing the horizontal folded position of the corresponding backrests 14, 17. Indeed, the front areas 18, 19 of the seats 13, 16, once they have turned around after a forward pivot of 180°, reveal recesses 26, 27 which are dimensioned to receive these headrests 23, 24, 25 without having to modify the position of said backrests 14, 17.

[0042] In this embodiment, the anti-submarining bar 2 may have several covers, not necessarily corresponding to the length of the individual seat 12 and the two-seater bench 15. Similarly, the anti-submarining bar 2 may have multiple transverse partitions delimiting compartments. Preferably, the covers 20, 21 each have a release button; pressing said button unlocks said covers 20, 21 in the closed position, so that they can be opened. Advantageously, each cover 20, 21 is associated with a pre-tensioned return element, the relaxation of which facilitates the opening of said covers 20, 21.

[0043] With reference to figures 6, 7 and 8, a second embodiment of a row of seats 1 according to the invention differs from the first embodiment described above in that the seat 16 of the two-seater bench 15 is made in two parts 16a, 16b, each corresponding to a seat of said bench 15. These two seat parts 16a, 16b are manipulable independently of each other and each has a front area 19a, 19b pivotable forward by 180° to allow the single backrest 17 of said bench 15 to fold down against the two seat parts 16a, 16b by extending horizontally. Similarly, the cover 21 of the anti-submarine bar 2 placed under the two-seater bench 15 is made of two 21b located each under a part of the seat 16a, 16b the dimensions of these two parts 21b of cover being identical to the dimensions of the two parts of the seat 16a, 16b.Preferably, for a hybrid vehicle equipped with an electric battery, a switch 28 for said electric battery may protrude from an internal wall of the anti-submarining bar 2. Advantageously, this switch 28 is located in a central area of ​​the anti-submarining bar 2 and under the bench seat 15. It can be accessed by opening a portion 21b of the cover of the anti-submarining bar 2, located between the other portion of said cover and the cover 20 situated under the seat 13 of the individual seat 12. In this way, it is possible to easily disconnect the electric battery without having to go under the vehicle. The portion 21b of the cover that can be opened to access the switch 28 is metallic. As can be seen in the... Figures 6 and 7, the cover 20 of the anti-submarining bar 2 which is placed under the seat 13 of the individual seat 12, can be opened or closed depending on the storage or accessibility needs encountered.

[0044] With reference to [Fig. 9], a third embodiment of a row of seats 1 according to the invention differs from the first embodiment described above in that a zone 29 of the anti-submarining bar 2 located under the two-seater bench 15 has a notch allowing access to a vehicle fuel tank 30. To access this tank 30, it is sufficient to pivot forward the front zone 19 of the seat 16 of the two-seater bench 15, and then open the cover 21 of the anti-submarining bar 2 located under said bench 15.

[0045]

Claims

Demands

1. A row (1) of seats (12, 15) comprising at least one seat (13, 16), at least one backrest (14, 17) that folds down onto the seat (13, 16), and an anti-submarining bar (2) located in said at least one seat (13, 16), said seat (13, 16) having a front area (18, 19) capable of pivoting forward about an axis of rotation (9) extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle to allow said at least one backrest (14, 17) to extend horizontally onto the seat (13, 16), characterized in that the forward pivoting of the front area (18, 19) of the seat (13, 16) exposes the anti-submarining bar (2), and in that said anti-submarining bar (2) is hollow and has at least one cover (20, 21) capable of moving from a closed position in which it closes the anti-submarine bar (2) to an open position in which it allows access to an interior space of said anti-submarine bar (2).

2. Row of seats according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one cover (20, 21) is rotationally mounted on the anti-submarine bar (2) about an axis of rotation extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle.

3. Row of seats according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one cover (20, 21) is elongated and is positioned in an upper part of the anti-submarine bar (2), and in that in the closed position said at least one cover (20, 21) extends horizontally over the anti-submarine bar (2) and in the open position it extends vertically over said anti-submarine bar (2).

4. A row of seats according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises three individual seats, each having a seat and backrest that can be manipulated separately, and in that a front area of ​​each seat is capable of pivoting forward about an axis of rotation extending in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle, the anti-submarining bar (2) extending along the three seats and having three separate covers continuous with each other, each cover extending along the seat of a seat.

5. Row of seats according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a two-seater bench (15) having a single backrest (17) and at least one seat (16, 16a, 16b), and an individual seat (12) comprising a backrest (14) and a seat (13), and in that the seat (13) of the individual seat (12) and said at least one seat (16, 16a, 16b) of said bench (15) each have a front area (18, 19, 19a, 19b) capable of pivoting forward, the anti-submarining bar (2) extending along the bench (15) and the individual seat (12) and having at least two separate and continuous covers (20, 21, 21b), one of which (20) extends under the individual seat (12) and at least one other (21, 21b) extends under the bench (15).

6. Row of seats according to claim 5, characterized in that the two-seater bench (15) comprises a single seat (16) extending along the entire length of said bench (15) and of which a front area (19) is capable of pivoting forward, and in that the anti-submarining bar (2) has a single cover (21) extending along the entire length of said two-seater bench (15).

7. Row of seats according to claim 5, characterized in that the two-seater bench (15) comprises two separate and continuous seats (16a, 16b) extending along the entire length of said bench (15), and in that the forward area (19a, 19b) of said two seats (16a, 16b) is capable of pivoting forward, the anti-submarining bar (2) having two separate and continuous covers (21b) extending along the entire length of said two-seater bench (15).

8. Row of seats according to claim 7, characterized in that the two-seat bench (15) has an end seat and a center seat located between said end seat and the individual seat (12), and in that an electric battery switch (28) emerges from an internal surface of the anti-submarine bar (2) under the center seat, said switch (28) being accessible by opening the cover (21b) located under said center seat.

9. Row of seats according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover (21b) placed under the central seat is a metal box.

10. Vehicle comprising at least one row (1) of seats according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said row (1) of seats is a row of row 2 or row 3.

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