Modular seat cushion, and seating set including such a cushion

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a modular seat cushion (1), configured to be attached to a seat structure (2) having a seat structure comprising two side flanges (20) braced by a transverse front tube (21) and a transverse rear tube (22), said modular seat cushion comprising in the assembled state: - a base (10), including a mechanical interface system for attachment to the seat structure, - a padding (11) resting on an upper surface of the base, - a cover (12) covering the padding. Abstract Figure: Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Modular seat cushion, and seat assembly comprising such a cushion

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a modular seat cushion, configured to be fixed to a seat structure having a seat structure, as well as a seat assembly comprising a modular seat cushion according to the present disclosure and a seat structure having a seat structure, said seat structure having two lateral flanges braced by a front, transverse tube, and a rear, transverse tube.

[0002] The present disclosure further relates to a method of obtaining a seat assembly according to the present disclosure, as well as a method of maintaining a seat assembly according to the present disclosure. Technical field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to the field of vehicle seats. Prior art

[0004] The state of the art of vehicle seats includes a seat design which requires assembling the various components of the seat at one site, typically using just-in-time manufacturing known by the English abbreviation "J1T" for "Just-in-Time manufacturing".

[0005] The seat structure comprises a typically metallic seat structure which conventionally comprises a seat structure and a back structure.

[0006] The seat structure may comprise: - two slides, right and left, each comprising a lower profile, typically female, fixed relative to a floor, and an upper profile, male, mounted to slide relative to the lower profile, typically in a direction X which may be the direction of travel of the vehicle, - a seat structure which conventionally comprises two flanges, right and left, braced by tubes, and in particular a front tube bracing the flanges, on a front portion of the seat structure and a rear tube bracing the flanges on a rear portion of the seat structure, the front and rear tubes extending in parallel, in a transverse direction, - a metal nose piece which connects the front ends of the flanges and is shaped to form a support surface for supporting the seat cushion.

[0007] The height of the seat structure, namely the assembly which includes the flanges and the nose piece, can typically be adjusted by a raising system which can include a pair of front links, right and left, connecting the front tube and the upper profiles of the right and left slides, and a pair of rear links, right and left, connecting the rear tube and the upper profiles of the right and left slides.

[0008] The seat of such a seat also comprises a suspension system typically with spring wires, connecting the nose piece to a rear part of the seat structure, but also a seat padding, typically made of expanded polyurethane foam, and a covering covering the foam padding.

[0009] Depending on the options that can be chosen by the end user, different comfort equipment can be provided, such as in particular a resistive heating pad, a massage system, or even a ventilation system, or even a sliding mechanism that is fixed above the nose piece so as to be able to adjust the advancement of a front part of the cushion, and relative to a fixed rear portion of the cushion.

[0010] A design of a seat according to [Fig.l] requires assembling, typically manually, a large number of components at the final assembly site of the vehicle, which may not be economically optimal when the assembly site has a high cost workforce.

[0011] Modern seats, particularly in higher-end motor vehicles, can be equipped with additional functions, such as heating, massage, or ventilation.

[0012] These fittings are integrated in the factory during the manufacture of the seat, then topped with the cushions with their padding and coverings. The seat thus assembled is then fixed to the floor of the vehicle.

[0013] According to the inventors' findings, and in motor vehicles equipped with such seats, and when the seat is not provided from the outset with such comfort equipment, the design of the seats known from the state of the art does not allow the seat to be removed from within the vehicle itself, that is to say without removing the seat from the floor of the vehicle, in order to improve the seat by adding an additional heating, ventilation, or massage function. Indeed, the addition of such equipment would require removing the seat from the vehicle to remove the coverings and padding, this removal being necessary for such an addition.

[0014] However, for example, from document US 9,796,310 B1, other seat manufacturing methods are known which include the pre-assembly, typically on a site separate from the final assembly site of the vehicle, of a module, and in particular a modular seat cushion. This modular cushion comprises, in the assembled state, a base, padding and a trim covering. It can typically be transported to the final assembly site for assembly on the structure.

[0015] Notably, a composite base nose piece is hinged to a body base, around a transverse axis of the seat, the nose piece comprising a hook assembly which is fixed to the front tube. According to US 9,796,310, in the event of a frontal impact, the possible rotation between the nose piece and the base contributes to the dissipation of energy during the impact, and favorably supports the hips in order to avoid submarining.

[0016] According to the Applicant's findings, the attachment of the module to the seat structure can be improved. Summary

[0017] The present disclosure relates to a modular seat cushion, configured to be fixed to a seat structure having a seat structure comprising two lateral flanges braced by a front, transverse tube, and a rear, transverse tube, said modular seat cushion comprising, in the assembled state: - a base comprising a mechanical interface system for attachment to the seat structure, - padding resting on an upper surface of the base - a covering covering the padding, and wherein said mechanical interface system comprises: - a rear mechanical interface on a rear portion of the base, comprising a first housing, open, configured to house the rear tube, pivotably around the rear tube, - a front mechanical interface, on a front part of the base, configured to house the front tube, in a second housing, open, in a mechanically lockable manner by a front mechanical interface locking system, and wherein said mechanical interface system is configured to allow the attachment of the modular seat cushion by the following steps: / A / aligning the rear mechanical interface with the rear tube and inserting the rear tube into the first housing and / B / pivoting of the modular cushion around the rear tube then fitted into the first housing of the rear mechanical interface until the front tube is inserted into the second housing of the front mechanical interface, and mechanical locking of the front tube in the second housing by said locking system of the front mechanical interface.

[0018] Such a modular seat cushion according to the present disclosure offers the following advantages, compared to the state of the art known to the Applicant, and in particular:

[0019] A simplified assembly of the modular seat cushion on the structure, with in particular a kinematics of assembly and locking of the modular seat cushion on the seat structure at only two fixing points, consisting respectively of the front tube and the rear tube of the structure.

[0020] Such assembly and locking kinematics are fast and intuitive for operators, offering short cycle times. Such assembly and locking kinematics, comprising in / A / a prior fitting of the rear tube into the first housing of the rear mechanical interface (i.e. before the locking of the front tube by the locking system of the front mechanical interface) also limits the handling and carrying efforts of the modular seat cushion by the operator: Such a design advantageously reduces the risks of musculoskeletal disorders.

[0021] Again, such a method of assembly at these two fixing points only consisting of the front and rear tubes can make it possible to ensure universality of the assembly of the modular seat cushion to seat structures of different designs, as long as the seat structures have both front and rear tubes, and even if the structures have different designs, and for example different flange designs.

[0022] Such a modular seat cushion assembly and locking kinematics can also allow easy maintenance, and in particular rapid disassembly of the modular seat cushion, in particular without disassembly of the seat structure from a floor of the vehicle.

[0023] According to optional features of the present disclosure, taken alone or in combination:

[0024] - said locking system may be elastically deformable, configured to allow elastic locking so that the locking of the front tube in the second housing is obtained, at the end of the stroke when pivoting at / B / of the modular cushion around the rear tube, by elastic deformation of the locking system.

[0025] - the first housing may be a U-shaped housing, and / or the second housing may be U-shaped accommodation.

[0026] - the first housing, in particular U-shaped, can open towards the rear of the base according to a rear direction oriented from the front portion towards the rear portion of the base, the first housing, in particular U-shaped, having an upper side wall and an opposite lower side wall, as well as a bottom wall, said housing, in particular U-shaped, configured so as to ensure stable support of the rear tube against the bottom wall when the base exerts a force on the rear tube directed in the rear direction, the rear tube then blocked in a direction perpendicular to the base between the upper side wall and the lower side wall.

[0027] - the base may be a body, preferably thin, which extends from a rear edge to a front edge, and from a first side edge to a second side edge, and wherein the first housing, in particular U-shaped, opens towards the rear of the base, and the second housing, in particular U-shaped, opens towards the bottom, and in which the first housing comprises a first insertion direction for the rear tube and the second housing comprises a second insertion direction for the front tube, and in which the first insertion direction and the second insertion direction are inclined relative to each other at an angle of between 45° and 90°.

[0028] - the base may be a body obtained by injection molding, and in which said said front mechanical interface and said rear mechanical interface are arranged respectively on the front and rear part of the base, in one piece with the body, said rear and front mechanical interfaces being obtained during injection molding.

[0029] - according to one embodiment, the locking system of said interface front mechanical element may comprise a locking member, hinged by a flexible hinge, at a proximal end to the body of the base relative to the second housing and having a locking tooth at its distal end, as well as a cam secured to the locking member, and in which said locking member is configured to move from an unlocked position, leaving the second housing open to a locked position closing the second housing, so that in step / B / the front tube engages with the cam, when it is inserted into the second housing, causing the locking member to move around the hinge from the unlocked position to the locked position during which said locking member deforms elastically by passing a counter-tooth of the mechanical interface,secured to the base and up to the locked position for which said locking member relaxes at least partially into a position where the locking tooth and the counter-tooth cooperate to prevent the unlocking of the locking member in a position where the locking member keeps said front tube captive in the second housing.

[0030] - according to one embodiment, the locking system of said interface front mechanical interface may comprise a groove of the second elastically deformable housing, said groove having a groove entrance of a dimension smaller than the diameter of the front tube, the groove having an internal section adjusted to the section of the front tube of a dimension greater than the groove entrance configured so that during pivoting at / B / the front tube is inserted into the groove entrance by elastically deforming it, and that once the front tube is received in the second housing of the front mechanical interface, the groove entrance elastically returns to position ensuring the maintenance of the front tube, elastically locked in the second housing

[0031] - according to one embodiment, the base may be an injection-molded body and in wherein the base comprises a suspension system on a central portion of the base between a first side edge and a second side edge of the body and wherein the suspension system is obtained during injection molding, and consists of an elastic perforated portion of the base, extending, on a central portion, between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge close to the rear edge compared to the front edge

[0032] - according to one embodiment, the base may comprise a suspension system on a central portion of the base between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the body and in the suspension system comprises: - an openwork portion of the base, extending, over a central portion, between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge close to the rear edge compared to the front edge, - a metallic spring system, covering the openwork portion, fixed to the body of the base on either side of the openwork portion.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the padding may comprise: - a central portion, extending from a rear edge to a front edge of the base, - a first lateral padding, forming a first raised edge, and - a second lateral padding forming a second raised edge, and in which the first padding and the second padding are arranged on either side of the central portion.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the first lateral padding and the second lateral padding are independent and removable elements relative to the central portion of the padding.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the modular cushion may also comprise, in the assembled state, all or part of the following components: - an electric heating pad, resistive, and / or - an electric ventilation system, configured to blow air through vents in said base, and / or - a massage system, comprising one or more mechanical actuators, and / or - a haptic exciter system, comprising one or more exciters configured to generate vibrations in said base.

[0036] The present disclosure also relates to a seat assembly comprising a modular seat cushion according to the present disclosure and a seat structure having a seat structure comprising two lateral flanges braced by a front, transverse tube, and a rear, transverse tube, and in which, said modular seat cushion comprising, in the assembled state: - said base, comprising the mechanical interface system for fixing to the seat structure, - said padding resting on the upper surface of the base, - the upholstery covering the padding, and in which said mechanical interface system comprises: - said rear mechanical interface, on the rear part of the base, comprising the first housing, open, configured to house the rear tube, pivotably around the rear tube, - said front mechanical interface, on a front part of the base, configured to house the front tube, in the second housing, open, in a lockable manner by the locking system, and wherein said mechanical interface system is configured to allow the attachment of the modular cushion by the following steps: / A / aligning the rear mechanical interface with the rear tube and inserting the rear tube into the first housing and / B / pivoting of the modular cushion around the rear tube fitted into the first housing of the rear mechanical interface until the front tube is inserted into the second housing of the front mechanical interface and the front tube is mechanically locked in the second housing by the locking system.

[0037] The present disclosure also relates to a method for obtaining a seat assembly according to the present disclosure, in the assembled state, comprising the following steps: - providing a modular seat cushion comprising in the assembled state at least one base comprising a mechanical interface system for fixing to the seat structure, padding resting on an upper surface of the base and a covering covering the padding, said mechanical interface system comprising a rear mechanical interface, on a rear part of the base, comprising a first housing configured to house the rear tube, pivotably around the rear tube, and a front mechanical interface on a front part of the base, configured to house the front tube, in a second housing in a lockable manner, - supply of a seat structure, in the assembled state, comprising a seat structure and a backrest structure, the seat structure comprising two side plates braced by a front, transverse tube and a rear, transverse tube, - assembly of the modular cushion to said seat structure by implementing the following steps: / A / aligning the rear mechanical interface with the rear tube and inserting the rear tube into the first housing and / B / pivoting of the modular cushion around the rear tube then fitted into the first housing of the rear mechanical interface until the front tube is inserted into the second housing of the front mechanical interface and locked by a front mechanical interface locking system.

[0038] The method of maintaining a seat assembly according to the present disclosure, comprising disassembling the modular cushion from the seat structure, without disassembling the seat structure to a floor of the vehicle, by implementing the following steps: / C / unlocking the locking system, releasing the front tube from the front mechanical interface and rotating the modular cushion around the rear tube housed in the first housing until the front tube escapes from the second housing, and successively / D / removal of the modular cushion by extracting the rear tube from the first housing of the rear mechanical interface. Brief description of the drawings

[0039] Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the attached drawings, in which: Fig.l

[0040] [Fig.l] is a view of a seat assembly which comprises, according to an exploded view, a seat structure which comprises side plates braced by front and rear tubes, as well as a front cross member intended to be fixed to the plate above the front tube, the cross member being shaped to form a support surface for supporting a seat which comprises numerous components, such as a metal spring suspension, padding comprising a central portion and raised edges, a seat covering intended to cover the padding, the components of the seat cushion being able to include, as an option, comfort equipment, such as a resistive, heating sheet, and / or a massage system, and / or a ventilation system comprising an electric fan, the design of the seat assembly being adapted for just-in-time manufacturing known by the English abbreviation "JIT" for ("Just In Time" manufacturing). Fig. 2

[0041] [Fig.2] is a view showing again the same seat structure as [Fig.l] and the pre-assembly of a modular seat cushion which has as essential components, a molded base, padding, and preferably a trim covering, or even optionally, a heating, resistive sheet, and / or a massage system comprising one or more actuators, and / or a fan of a ventilation system, this pre-assembly being able to be carried out on a first manufacturing site, and with a view to being transported to the final assembly site of the vehicle where the modular seat cushion is assembled to the seat structure. Fig. 3

[0042] [Fig.3] is a view of the assembly of the modular seat cushion and in particular of its three main components, namely the base, the padding, and the trim covering, said base, typically injection molded, having a rear mechanical interface comprising a first U-shaped housing configured to pivotally receive a rear tube of the structure, spacing two flanges of the seat structure, and a front mechanical interface, comprising a second housing for a front tube of the seat structure, spacing the two flanges, said front mechanical interface allowing the front tube to be locked by elastic deformation of said front mechanical interface. Fig. 4

[0043] [Fig.4] is a view of the method of assembling the modular seat cushion (in the assembled state) to the seat structure which comprises the following steps: - a facing of the rear mechanical interface to the right of the rear tube and an insertion of the rear tube into the first U-shaped housing and, - pivoting of the modular cushion around the rear tube then fitted into the first U-shaped housing of the rear mechanical interface until the front tube is inserted into the second U-shaped housing of the front mechanical interface, and locking by elastic deformation of the front mechanical interface. Fig. 5

[0044] [Fig.5] is a detail view of an elastically deformable locking member of the front mechanical interface, configured to move from an unlocked position to a locked position when a cam is driven by the front tube, causing the locking member to move around a hinge from the unlocked position to the locked position, during which movement said locking member elastically deforms by passing a counter-tooth of the mechanical interface, secured to the base and to the locked position for which said elastic member relaxes at least partially in a position where the locking tooth and the counter-tooth cooperate to prevent the locking member from being unlocked in a position where the locking member keeps said front tube captive in the second housing. Fig. 6

[0045] [Fig.6] is a consecutive view illustrating the disassembly by: - unlocking of the front tube by elastic deformation of the front mechanical interface and rotation of the modular cushion around the rear tube housed in the first housing until the front tube escapes from the second U-shaped housing, and successively - removal of the modular cushion by extracting the rear tube from the first housing of the rear mechanical interface. Fig. 7

[0046] [Fig.7] is a view of different designs of the components of the modular seat cushion, and in particular at the top: - a first design, of the padding on the left for which the central portion of the padding, on the one hand, and the first lateral padding and the second lateral padding, on the other hand, form a single piece of padding, - a second design of the padding, on the right, for which the central portion of the padding, on the one hand, and the first lateral padding and the second lateral padding, on the other hand, are removable elements, which can be changed independently when worn and below, three designs of the said base, with on the left a suspension comprising an elastic, metallic spring system, and in the middle and on the right a design in which the suspension is constituted by an elastic openwork part of the thermo-formable body of the base. Description of the embodiments

[0047] The present disclosure relates to a modular seat cushion 1, configured to be fixed to a seat structure 2 having a seat structure comprising two lateral flanges 20 braced by a front tube 21, transverse, and a rear tube 22, transverse.

[0048] The modular seat cushion comprises, in the assembled state, at least the following components: - a base 10, comprising a mechanical interface system for fixing to the seat structure, - padding 11 resting on an upper surface of the base, and possibly - a covering 12 covering the padding.

[0049] The base 10 is a body, preferably thin, which extends from a rear edge Bar to a front edge Bav typically in the X direction, and from a first lateral edge BL1 to a second lateral edge BL2 in the transverse direction. The base may typically be a body molded in one piece, typically by injection molding techniques. The padding 11 rests on the upper surface of the base.

[0050] The profile of the body, seen along a section passing through a plane XZ, may be a rising profile, in normal conditions of use of the vehicle seat, when moving from the rear edge Bar, and towards the front edge Bav, in particular up to the front edge of the body. Such a rising profile ensures support for the hips of the user seated in the seat, limiting the risks of submarining in the event of a frontal impact.

[0051] The profile of the body, seen along a section passing through a plane YZ, may be concave, the first lateral edge BL1, and the second lateral edge BL2 being raised along the direction Z, relative to a central portion of the body between the two lateral edges B11, B12.

[0052] The base 10 may comprise a suspension system 100 typically provided on a central portion of the base 10 between the first lateral edge BL1 and the second lateral edge BL2 of the body.

[0053] According to an embodiment illustrated on the right, and in the center in [Fig.7], the suspension system 100 is obtained during injection molding, and may consist of an elastic portion 101 perforated from the base, typically extending, over a central portion, between the first lateral edge BL1 and the second lateral edge BL12 close to the rear edge Bar compared to the front edge Bav, namely that the suspension system is located, in particular along the X direction, closer to the rear edge Bar than to the front edge Bav.

[0054] According to another embodiment, the base 10 may comprise a suspension system 100 which typically extends over a central portion of the base between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the body.

[0055] The suspension system 10 may comprise: - an openwork portion 102 of the base, extending, over a central portion, between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge close to the rear edge compared to the front edge - a metallic spring system 103, covering the openwork portion, fixed to the body of the base on either side of the openwork portion 102.

[0056] Notably, said mechanical interface system comprises: - a rear mechanical interface 13 on a rear part of the base 10, comprising a first open housing LG1 configured to house the rear tube, pivotably around the rear tube 22, - a front mechanical interface 14, on a front part of the base 10, configured to house the front tube 21, in a second open housing LG2. The front mechanical interface also comprises a mechanical locking system, configured to ensure the locking of the front tube 21, in the second housing LG2.

[0057] The first rear housing LG1 has the function of authorizing at / A / , the insertion of the rear tube 22, and of authorizing the pivoting of the modular seat cushion around the rear tube 22, in a secure manner, while this rear tube 22 is fitted into the first housing LGL

[0058] Once the front tube 21 is received in the second housing LG2 and locked, the design of the first housing LG1 prevents escape of the rear tube 22 which is blocked in the first housing LGL

[0059] The first housing LG1 may typically be a U-shaped (or C-shaped) housing having a bottom wall and side walls, and / or the second housing LG2 may typically be a U-shaped (or C-shaped) housing having a bottom wall and side walls. However, other housing shapes may be envisaged for the first housing LG1 and / or the second housing LG2, for example housings with polygonal sections, for example rectangular, pentagonal or other.

[0060] Generally, the first housing, in particular U-shaped, referenced LG1, can open towards the rear of the base 10 in a rear direction oriented from the front portion towards the rear portion of the base 10. The first housing, in particular U-shaped, referenced LG1, has an upper side wall and an opposite lower side wall, as well as a bottom wall. Such a first housing, in particular U-shaped, is configured so as to ensure stable holding of the rear tube 22 against the bottom wall when the base 10 exerts a force on the rear tube 22 directed in the rear direction, the rear tube 22 then blocked in a direction perpendicular to the base between the lower and upper side walls.

[0061] The first housing, in particular U-shaped LG1, can open towards the rear, substantially in the direction of a mean plane PM, in a direction slightly inclined relative to the mean plane of the base 2, typically by + or - 30°. The second housing, in particular U-shaped LG2, can open towards the bottom, typically in a direction perpendicular to the mean plane PM of the base, or slightly inclined relative to this plane, typically by + or - 30°.

[0062] Thus, the first housing LG1, in particular U-shaped, may comprise a first insertion direction DI for the rear tube 22, extending in the direction of a mean plane PM, in a direction slightly inclined relative to the mean plane of the base 2, typically by + or - 30°, and the second housing LG2, in particular U-shaped, may comprise a second insertion direction D2 for the front tube 21, in a direction perpendicular to the mean plane PM of the base, or slightly inclined relative to this direction, typically by + or - 30°. The first insertion direction DI and the second insertion direction D2 are inclined relative to each other by an angle typically between 45° and 90°.

[0063] The first housing LG, in particular U-shaped, can be formed by a continuous groove along the transverse direction, or else formed by several elements, in particular U-shaped, discreetly spaced along the transverse direction Y. The second housing LG2, in particular U-shaped, can be formed by a continuous groove along the transverse direction Y, or else formed by several elements, in particular U-shaped, discreetly spaced along the transverse direction Y. The different walls of the U (in particular the side walls and the bottom wall) can be provided at least locally along the transverse direction Y, or else be broken down along the direction transverse, namely that the first side wall, the second side wall and the bottom wall can extend respectively along several discontinuous sections along the transverse direction Y (embodiment not shown).

[0064] The padding 11 provides softness and comfort to the seat, and may be made of a material such as expanded polyurethane foam.

[0065] The padding may include: - a central portion 110, extending from a rear edge and to a front edge of the base: - a first lateral padding 111, forming a first raised edge, and - a second lateral padding 112 forming a second raised edge. The first padding 111 and the second padding 112 are arranged on either side of the central portion 112, in the transverse direction Y, and have the function of ensuring lateral support for the occupant.

[0066] Generally, the padding 11, including the central portion 110, the first lateral padding 111 and the second lateral padding 112 can be formed by a single-piece element, and in particular as illustrated in the top view, to the left of [Fig.7].

[0067] According to a variant, the first lateral padding 111 and / or the second lateral padding 112 may be independent and removable elements relative to the central portion 110 of the padding 11. In the event of maintenance; it is thus possible to change only the worn element of the padding while retaining the others: for example, it is possible to change the first lateral padding 111 and / or the second lateral padding 112 which tend to wear more quickly, while retaining the central portion 110.

[0068] The central portion of the padding may also comprise a fixed rear portion 110b and a movable front portion 110a. The rear portion 110b is fixed to the base 10 while a slide system 18 may be provided between the base 10 and the front portion 110a. This slide system makes it possible to move the front portion 110a of the central portion 110 forward or backward relative to the rear portion 110b.

[0069] The modular cushion may also comprise, in the assembled state, all or part of the following components: - an electric heating pad 15, resistive, and / or - an electric ventilation system 16, configured to blow air through vents in said base, and / or - a massage system 17, comprising one or more mechanical actuators, and / or - a haptic exciter system, comprising one or more exciters configured to generate vibrations in said base.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the base 10 may be a body obtained by injection molding; said front mechanical interface 14 and said rear mechanical interface 13 may be arranged respectively on the front and rear part of the base 10, and be in one piece with the body, said rear and front mechanical interfaces 13, 14 being obtained during injection molding. Alternatively, the front mechanical interface 14 and / or the rear mechanical interface 13 may be formed by elements added to the body of the base 10.

[0071] According to the present disclosure, said mechanical interface system is advantageously configured to allow the fixing of the modular seat cushion by the following steps: / A / placing the rear mechanical interface opposite the rear tube 22 and inserting the rear tube 22 into the first U-shaped housing LG1 and / B / pivoting of the modular cushion 1 around the rear tube 22 then fitted into the first housing LG1 of the rear mechanical interface 13 until the front tube 21 is inserted into the second housing LG2 of the front mechanical interface and locking of the front tube 21 by the locking system.

[0072] The installation and fixing of the modular seat cushion to the seat structure according to the present disclosure is quick, safe and preferably carried out without tools, in particular for steps / A / and / B / .

[0073] Generally speaking, the mechanical locking of the front tube 21 may require an additional user operation to the (simple) pivoting at / B / , for example, a movement of a latch of the locking system by way of non-limiting example, or the installation of a retaining member, removable from the front mechanical interface, such as a retaining tab.

[0074] However, and according to an advantageous embodiment, the locking system can be configured to ensure locking automatically when pivoting in / B / .

[0075] According to such an embodiment, the locking system may be elastically deformable, configured to allow elastic locking so that the locking of the front tube 21 in the second housing LG2 of the front mechanical interface is obtained, at the end of the stroke during the pivoting at / B / of the modular cushion around the rear tube 22, by elastic deformation of the locking system.

[0076] Thus, according to one embodiment (not illustrated), the second housing, in particular U-shaped, LG2 may be an elastically deformable groove having a groove inlet with a dimension smaller than the diameter of the front tube 21, the groove having an internal section adjusted to the section of the front tube 21 with a dimension greater than the groove inlet. During pivoting at / B / the front tube 21 is inserted into the groove inlet, deforming it elastically. Once the front tube 21 is received in the second housing of the front mechanical interface 14, the throat inlet elastically returns to position ensuring the maintenance of the front tube 21, elastically locked in the second housing LG2.

[0077] According to another embodiment, said front mechanical interface 14 may comprise a locking member 140, articulated by a flexible hinge 141, at a proximal end to the body of the base relative to the second housing and having a locking tooth 142 at its distal end, as well as a cam 143 secured to the locking member 140.

[0078] Said locking member 140 is configured to move from an unlocked position PI, leaving the second housing LG2 open, illustrated on the right in [Fig.5], to a locked position P2 closing the second housing LG2, illustrated on the left in [Fig.5].

[0079] In step / B / the front tube 21 engages with the cam 143, when it is inserted into the second housing, causing the locking member 140 to move around the hinge 141 from the unlocked position PI to the locked position P2: during such a movement, said locking member 140 deforms elastically by passing a counter-tooth 144 of the mechanical interface 14, integral with the base and up to the locked position P2 for which said locking member 140 relaxes at least partially into a position where the locking tooth 142 and the counter-tooth 144 cooperate with each other to prevent the unlocking of the locking member 140 in a position where the locking member 140 keeps said front tube 21 captive in the second housing LG2.

[0080] The locking member 140 may have an L shape, the hinge 141 provided at one end of the L, the locking tooth at an opposite end of the L. The cam may comprise an arm which extends generally parallel to the lower wing of the L and so that the front tube 21 is housed between the cam and the lower wing of the L when the cam is driven.

[0081] The present disclosure also relates to a seat assembly comprising a modular seat cushion 1 and a seat structure 2 having a seat structure comprising two lateral flanges 30 braced by a front tube 21, transverse, and a rear tube 22, transverse, or even a backrest structure.

[0082] The modular seat cushion comprises in the assembled state: - said base 10, comprising a mechanical interface system for fixing to the seat structure, - said padding 11 resting on an upper surface of the base - the covering 12 covering the padding.

[0083] The mechanical interface system comprises: - said rear mechanical interface 13, on a rear part of the base, comprising the first housing LG1, open, configured to house the rear tube, pivotably around the rear tube 22, - said front mechanical interface 14, on a front part of the base, configured to house the front tube, in the second housing LG2, open, in a lockable manner.

[0084] Said mechanical interface system is configured to allow the fixing of the modular cushion by the following steps: / A / placing the rear mechanical interface 13 opposite the rear tube 22 and inserting the rear tube into the first housing LG1 and / B / pivoting of the modular cushion around the rear tube 22 fitted into the first housing LG1, in particular U-shaped, of the rear mechanical interface until the front tube 21 is inserted into the second housing LG2, in particular U-shaped, of the front mechanical interface and mechanical locking by said front mechanical interface locking system 14.

[0085] Generally speaking, mechanical locking may require an additional user operation beyond simple pivoting, for example, moving a latch of the locking system, or even installing a retaining member.

[0086] However, and according to one embodiment, the locking system can be configured to ensure locking automatically when pivoting in / B / .

[0087] According to such an embodiment, the locking system may be elastically deformable, configured to allow elastic locking so that the locking of the front tube 21 in the second housing LG2 of the front mechanical interface is obtained, at the end of the stroke during the pivoting at / B / of the modular cushion around the rear tube 22, by elastic deformation of the locking system.

[0088] The present disclosure also relates to a method of obtaining a seat assembly according to the present disclosure, in the assembled state (i.e. of the modular cushion on the seat structure) comprising the following steps: - provision of a modular seat cushion 1 comprising in the assembled state at least one base 10, comprising a mechanical interface system for fixing to the seat structure, padding 11 resting on an upper surface of the base, or even a covering 12 covering the padding, said mechanical interface system comprising a rear mechanical interface 13, on a rear part of the base, comprising a first housing LG1 configured to house the rear tube 22, pivotably around the rear tube 22, and a front mechanical interface 14 on a front part of the base, configured to house the front tube 21, in a second housing LG2 in a lockable manner, - supply of a seat structure 2, in the assembled state, comprising a seat structure and a backrest structure, the seat structure comprising two lateral flanges 20 braced by a front tube 21, transverse, and a rear tube 22 transverse, - assembly of the modular cushion to said seat structure by implementing the following steps: / A / placing the rear mechanical interface 13 opposite the rear tube 22 and inserting the rear tube 22 into the first housing LG1 and / B / pivoting of the modular cushion 1 around the rear tube 22 then fitted into the first U-shaped housing LG1 of the rear mechanical interface 13 until the front tube 21 is inserted into the second housing LG2 of the front mechanical interface 14 and mechanical locking of the front tube in the second housing LG2 by the locking system of the front mechanical interface 14.

[0089] The assembly between the modular cushion and the seat structure can still allow rapid disassembly, and advantageously disassembly of the modular cushion without disassembly of the seat structure on the floor of the vehicle.

[0090] Also, the present disclosure further relates to a method of maintaining a seat assembly according to the present disclosure, comprising disassembling the modular cushion 1 from the seat structure 2, without disassembling the seat structure to a floor of the vehicle by implementing the following steps: / C / unlocking the locking system, releasing the front tube 21 from the front mechanical interface 14 and rotating the modular cushion 1 around the rear tube 22 housed in the first housing LG1 until the front tube 21 escapes from the second U-shaped housing LG2, and successively / D / removal of the modular cushion by extracting the rear tube 22 from the first housing LG1 of the rear mechanical interface 13.

[0091] Such removal of the modular cushion, without dismantling the seat structure, allows easy maintenance of the cushion, by replacing one or more worn elements, for example replacing one or more linings, by substituting a new modular cushion, or even one fitted with comfort equipment, such as the resistive heating pad, the ventilation system, or even the massage system, or even the system comprising one or more haptic exciters. List of reference signs

[0092] - 1: Modular seat cushion, - 10 Base, - 100. Suspension system, - 101. Openwork elastic portion, - 102. Openwork portion, -103 Spring system, metallic - 11. Padding, -110. Central portion, - 110a, 110b. Front portion and rear portion, - 112, 113. First lateral padding and second lateral padding, -12. Trim covering, -13. Rear mechanical interface, - LG1. First housing (Front mechanical interface), -14. Front mechanical interface, - 140. Locking organ, -141. Particularly flexible hinge; - 142. Locking tooth, -143. Came, - 144. Against tooth - LG2. Second housing (rear mechanical interface), - 15. Resistive heating sheet, -16. Fan, - 17. Actuator massage system, -18 Slide System - 2. Seat structure, - 20. Flasks (seat structure) - 21,22. Respectively, front tube and rear tube, transverse (seat structure), - Bar, Bav. Rear edge and front edge, - BL1, BL2. First lateral edge and second lateral edge.

Claims

Claims

1. Modular seat cushion (1), configured to be fixed to a seat structure (2) having a seat structure comprising two lateral flanges (20) braced by a front tube (21), transverse, and a rear tube (22), transverse, said modular seat cushion comprising, in the assembled state: - a base (10), comprising a mechanical interface system for fixing to the seat structure, - padding (11) resting on an upper surface of the base, - a covering covering (12) covering the padding, and wherein said mechanical interface system comprises: - a rear mechanical interface (13), on a rear part of the base (10), comprising a first housing (LG1), open, configured to house the rear tube (22), pivotably around the rear tube (22), - a front mechanical interface (14), on a front part of the base (10), comprising a second housing (LG2), open,configured to house the front tube (21) in a mechanically lockable manner by a front mechanical interface locking system (14), and wherein said mechanical interface system is configured to allow the modular seat cushion to be fixed by the following steps:, / A / placing the rear mechanical interface (13) opposite the rear tube (22) and inserting the rear tube (22) into the first housing (LG1), and / B / pivoting of the modular cushion (1) around the rear tube (22) then fitted into the first housing (LG1) of the rear mechanical interface (13) until the front tube (21) is inserted into the second housing (LG2) of the front mechanical interface (14), and mechanical locking of the front tube (21) in the second housing (LG2) by said locking system of the front mechanical interface (14).

2. Modular cushion (1) according to claim 1, wherein said locking system of the front mechanical interface (14) is elastically deformable, configured to allow elastic locking so that the locking of the front tube (21) in the second housing (LG2) is obtained, at the end of the stroke during the pivoting carried out in step / B / of the modular cushion around the rear tube (22), by de- elastic formation of the locking system.

3. Modular cushion (1) according to claim 1 or 2, the first housing (LG1) is an open U-shaped housing, and / or the second housing (LG2) is an open U-shaped housing.

4. Modular cushion (1) according to claim 3 wherein the first U-shaped housing (LG1) opens towards the rear of the base (10) in a rear direction oriented from the front portion towards the rear portion of the base (10), the first U-shaped housing (LG1) having an upper side wall and an opposite lower side wall, as well as a bottom wall, said U-shaped housing being configured so as to ensure stable maintenance of the rear tube (22) against the bottom wall when the base (10) exerts a force on the rear tube (22) directed in the rear direction, the rear tube (22) then blocked in a direction perpendicular to the base between the upper side wall and the lower side wall.

5. Modular cushion (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (10) is a body, preferably thin, which extends from a rear edge (Bar) to a front edge (Bav), and from a first lateral edge (BL11) to a second lateral edge (BL2), and wherein the first open housing (LG1) opens towards the rear of the base (10), and the second open housing (LG2) opens towards the bottom, and wherein the first housing (LG1) comprises a first insertion direction (D1) for the rear tube (22) and the second housing (LG2) comprises a second insertion direction (D2) for the front tube (21), and wherein the first insertion direction (D1) and the second insertion direction (D2) are inclined relative to each other by an angle of between 45° and 90°.

6. Modular cushion (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the base (10) is a body obtained by injection molding, and wherein said front mechanical interface (14) and said rear mechanical interface (13) are arranged respectively on the front and rear part of the base (10), in one piece with the body, said rear and front mechanical interfaces (13, 14) being obtained during injection molding.

7. Modular cushion (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the locking system of said front mechanical interface (14) comprises a locking member (140), articulated by a hinge (141), flexible, at an end proximal to the body of the base relative to the second housing and having a locking tooth (142) at its distal end, as well as a cam (143) integral with the locking member (140), and wherein said locking member (140) is configured to move from an unlocked position (PI), leaving the second housing open, to a locked position (P2) closing the second housing (LG2), so that in step / B / , the front tube (21) engages with the cam (143), when it is inserted into the second housing, causing the locking member (140) to move around the hinge (141) from the unlocked position (PI) to the locked position (P2) during which said locking member (140) deforms elastically by passing a counter-tooth (144) of the mechanical interface,integral with the base and up to the locked position (P2) for which said locking member (140) relaxes at least partially into a position where the locking tooth (142) and the counter-tooth (144) cooperate to prevent the unlocking of the locking member (140) in a position where the locking member (140) keeps said front tube (21) captive in the second housing (LG2).,

8. Modular cushion (1) according to claim 2, taken alone or in combination with one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the locking system of said front mechanical interface (14) comprises a groove of the second housing (LG2) elastically deformable having a groove entrance of a dimension smaller than the diameter of the front tube (21), the groove having an internal section adjusted to the section of the front tube (21) of a dimension greater than the groove entrance configured so that during pivoting in step / B / , the front tube (21) is inserted into the groove entrance by elastically deforming it, and that once the front tube (21) is received in the second housing of the front mechanical interface (14), the groove entrance elastically returns to position ensuring the maintenance of the front tube (21), elastically locked in the second housing (LG2).

9. Modular cushion (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base is an injection-molded body and wherein the base (10) comprises a suspension system (100) on a central portion of the base (10) between a first lateral edge (BL1) and a second lateral edge (BL2) of the body and wherein the suspension system (100) is obtained during injection molding, and consists of an elastic portion (101) perforated with the base, extending, on a central portion, between the first lateral edge (BL1) and the second lateral edge (BL2) at proximity of the trailing edge compared to the leading edge

10. Modular cushion (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base (10) comprises a suspension system (100) on a central portion of the base between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the body and in the suspension system (10) comprises: - an openwork portion (102) of the base, extending, on a central portion, between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge close to the rear edge compared to the front edge, - a spring system (103), metallic, covering the openwork portion, fixed to the body of the base on either side of the openwork portion.

11. Seat assembly comprising a modular seat cushion (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10 and a seat structure (2) having a seat structure comprising two lateral flanges (20) braced by a front tube (21), transverse, and a rear tube (22), transverse, and wherein, said modular seat cushion comprising, in the assembled state: - said base (10), comprising the mechanical interface system for fixing to the seat structure, - said padding (11) resting on the upper surface of the base - the upholstery covering (12) covering the padding and wherein said mechanical interface system comprises: - said rear mechanical interface (13), on the rear part of the base, comprising the first housing (LG1), open, configured to house the rear tube, pivotably around the rear tube (22), - said front mechanical interface (14), on a front part of the base,configured to house the front tube, in the second housing (LG2), open, in a lockable manner by the locking system, and in which said mechanical interface system is configured to allow the fixing of the modular cushion by the following steps: / A / placing the rear mechanical interface (13) opposite the rear tube (22) and inserting the rear tube into the first housing (LG1) and / B / pivoting the modular cushion around the rear tube (22) fitted into the first housing (LG1) of the rear mechanical interface until the front tube (21) is inserted into the second housing (LG2) of the front mechanical interface and mechanically locking the front tube (21) in the second housing (LG2) by the locking system.,

12. A method of obtaining a seat assembly according to claim 11 to the assembled state comprising the following steps: - provision of a modular seat cushion (1) comprising in the assembled state at least one base (10) comprising a mechanical interface system for fixing to the seat structure, padding (11) resting on an upper surface of the base and a covering covering (12) covering the padding, said mechanical interface system comprising a rear mechanical interface (13), on a rear part of the base, comprising a first housing (LG1) configured to house the rear tube (22), pivotably around the rear tube (22), and a front mechanical interface (14) on a front part of the base, configured to house the front tube (21), in a second housing (LG2) in a lockable manner, - supply of a seat structure (2), in the assembled state, comprising a seat structure and a backrest structure, the seat structure comprising two lateral flanges (20) braced by a front transverse tube (21) and a rear transverse tube (22), - assembly of the modular cushion to said seat structure by implementing the following steps: / A / placing the rear mechanical interface (13) opposite the rear tube (22) and inserting the rear tube (22) into the first housing (LG1) and / B / pivoting of the modular cushion (1) around the rear tube (22) then fitted into the first housing (LG1) of the rear mechanical interface (13) until the front tube (21) is inserted into the second housing (LG2) of the front mechanical interface (14) and locked by a locking system of the front mechanical interface (14).

13. A method of maintaining a seat assembly according to claim 11, comprising disassembling the modular cushion (1) from the seat structure (2), without disassembling the seat structure from a floor of the vehicle by implementing the following steps: / C / ​​unlocking the locking system, releasing the front tube (21) from the front mechanical interface (14) and rotating the modular cushion (1) around the rear tube (22) housed in the first housing (LG1) until the front tube (21) escapes from the second housing (LG2), and successively / D / removal of the modular cushion by extracting the rear tube (22) from the first housing (LG1) of the rear mechanical interface (13).

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