Seat back including an armrest support element

Abstract

Seat back including an armrest support element The seat back (6) includes an armrest support element (12) (8) comprising two armrest receiving tabs (26) connected to each other by a fixing interface (30) of the support element (12) to the frame (10). The said fastening interface (30) comprises two fastening plates (32), each fixed to a frame (10) of the seat back and extending from a receiving tab (26) to a central end (34), the central ends (34) of the fastening plates (32) being spaced apart in a transverse direction (D), the fastening plates (32) being connected to each other by at least two bridges (48, 50) spaced apart in an elevation direction (Z), said support element (12) being made in one piece. Figure for the abstract: 2

Description

Description Title of the invention: Seat back comprising an element of armrest support

[0001] — The present invention relates to a vehicle seat backrest, of the type comprising a framework extending between two lateral edges in a transverse direction and between a lower edge and an upper edge along a direction of elevation sen- possibly perpendicular to the transverse direction, said file further comprising a support element for an armrest comprising two receiving tabs for a armrests, each extending near a lateral edge of the frame, the legs receiving elements being connected to each other by an interface for fixing the element support for the frame.

[0002] …— The invention also relates to a seat back assembly comprising such seat back and an armrest.

[0003] = The invention can be applied, for example, to a central backrest of a rear bench seat of motor vehicle. Such a central folder is, for example, designed to be able to be folded down to increase the storage space offered by the vehicle's trunk allowing the passage of bulky objects through this storage space into the passenger compartment vehicle. For this purpose, the central backrest is mounted in a movably rotating manner on the two folders extending on either side of the central folder around axes of rotation passing near the lower edge of the central backrest.

[0004] It may be planned to add an armrest to this central backrest in order to improve the passenger comfort in the two adjacent seats when the center backrest is in its raised position and that no passenger occupies the center seat. Such an armrest is then mounted in a movably rotating manner on a support element fixed to the frame of the backrest. Such a support element, formed by a plate extending from a lateral edge to the other of this reinforcement in the vicinity of the lower edge of the reinforcement, However, this adds unwanted mechanical resistance to the backrest's frame. Indeed, in the event of an impact on the backrest, for example due to luggage in the trunk hitting the backrest, the support element disrupts energy dissipation in the frame, this which creates unwanted ruptures or deformations, particularly at the level of the axes of rotation between the folder and adjacent folders.

[0005] — To overcome this drawback, it may be possible to make the support element in several separate and unconnected parts to avoid stiffening of the reinforcement from one lateral edge to the other. However, this solution is not satisfactory in that it complicates the structure of the file and makes managing the documents more difficult, particularly during the assembly of the file. One of the aims of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a seat back including an armrest support element that preserves satisfactory behavior of the back in case of impact without complicating the structure of the back. For this purpose, the invention relates to a seat back of the aforementioned type, in which said fixing interface comprises two fixing plates, each fixed to the frame and extending from a receiving tab to a central end, the central ends of the fixing plates being spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction, the fixing plates being connected to each other by at least two bridges spaced apart from each other in the elevation direction, said support element being made of a single piece. By using a mounting interface consisting of two plates spaced apart but connected by bridges, it is possible to obtain a seat back that, in the event of an impact, behaves in much the same way as a back without an armrest support element, while having a support element made from a single piece. In other words, the support element adds virtually no mechanical resistance to the backrest frame while being made from a single piece, thus giving the backrest satisfactory impact resistance and simplifying its assembly. The seat back according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically feasible combination: - the bridges define at least one first slot between the central ends of the fixing plates, said first slot extending mainly in the direction of elevation: - the bridges define at least a second slot between the fixing plates, said second slot extending mainly in the transverse direction; - the first slot opens into the second slot at a lower end of said first slot, in particular these two slots forming a T between them; - each bridge comprises two legs, each connected to a fixing plate and extending in the direction of elevation, and a bridge extending in the transverse direction between the two legs; - the brackets extend on either side of the fixing plates according to the direction of elevation; - the receiving legs extend outward from the frame in a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the transverse and elevation directions; - each receiving leg includes a receiving hole for a rotation axis of an armrest at its free end, opposite the end of the receiving leg connected to a mounting plate; - each fixing plate includes at least one through hole, a weld bead extending into said hole and fixing the fixing plate to the frame. According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a seat back assembly comprising a seat back as described above and an armrest mounted movable in rotation on the receiving legs of the seat back support element. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Fig.1] - [Fig.1] is a schematic perspective representation of a rear vehicle bench seat including a central seat back with an armrest, [Fig.2] - [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective representation of the frame of the central seat back according to the invention, and [Fig.3] - [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective representation of the support element attached to the reinforcement of [Fig.2]. With reference to [Fig. 1], a rear bench seat of a vehicle 1 is described, in which a seat back according to the invention can be implemented. The rear bench seat of the vehicle comprises two side seats 2 extending on either side of a central seat 4 in a transverse direction D corresponding, for example, to the width of the vehicle. The central seat 4 comprises a seat back assembly according to the invention. Such a seat back assembly comprises a seat back 6 according to the invention and an armrest 8, mounted for rotation on the seat back 6. The armrest 8 is more particularly for rotation about an axis of rotation extending in the transverse direction D between a retracted position, shown in [Fig. 1].[1] and in which the armrest 8 extends into the seat back 6 and forms part of the support surface of this seat back 6, and an extended position, not shown, in which the armrest extends onto the seat cushion of the center seat 4 to form an armrest for passengers seated in the side seats 2. As can be seen in [Fig. 1], the armrest 8 occupies substantially the entire width of the seat back 6, the width being measured in the transverse direction. The seat back 4 is itself rotatable relative to the side seat backs 2 between an upright position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the seat back 6 extends in continuity with the side seat backs 2 and forms a support surface for a passenger, and a folded-down position, not shown, in which the seat back 6 is folded down against the seat cushion of the center seat 4 to provide access between the trunk and the passenger compartment of the vehicle. As shown in [Fig. 2], the seat back 6 comprises a frame 10 and a support element 12 of the armrest 8. The frame 10 supports the padding and the top of the backrest 6 and gives the backrest 6 its mechanical properties, such as its rigidity and mechanical strength. In addition, the frame 10 carries or forms functional elements of the backrest 6, such as the pivot points 14 by which the backrest 6 is mounted to rotate on the backrests of the adjacent seats 2, the locking means 16 for the backrest in the raised position, the receiving elements for the rods of a headrest 17, and the support element 12 for the armrest 8. The frame 10 extends between two lateral edges 18 in the transverse direction and between a lower edge 20 and an upper edge 22 in an upward direction Z, substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction D and corresponding to the height of the vehicle when the backrest 6 is in the raised position.The lower edge 20 and the upper edge 22 connect the lateral edges 18 to each other at their ends along the direction of elevation. The frame is, for example, formed by a plate of plastic material shaped to form some of the functional elements described above. Alternatively, the frame can be formed by a metal frame. The axes of rotation 14 are, for example, received in receiving holes 24 passing through the lateral edges 18 at the level of the lower edge 20. The support element 12 is made from a single piece, for example, metal. By "a single piece," it is meant that all the elements constituting the support element 12 are joined together from one another, as can be seen particularly in [Fig. 3]. The support element 12 is fixed to the reinforcement 10, as will be described in more detail later, for example, in the vicinity of the lower edge 20 of the reinforcement 10. The support element 12 comprises two receiving tabs 26 for the armrest 8. The receiving tabs 26 extend mainly in a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction D and the elevation direction Z at the transverse ends of the support element 12. More specifically, the receiving tabs 26 form the transverse ends of the support element 12 and each extends substantially opposite a lateral edge 18 of the frame 10. In other words, according to the embodiment shown in [Fig. 2], the support element 12 extends over substantially the entire width of the frame 10. Alternatively, the support element 12 can extend over part of the width of the frame 10, the receiving tabs 26 then extending in the vicinity of the lateral edges 18 but leaving a space between the lateral edges and the receiving tabs 26 in the transverse direction. As shown in the [Fig.[2] When the support element 12 is fixed to the reinforcement 10, the receiving tabs 26 extend outward from the reinforcement 10 in the longitudinal direction. Each receiving tab 26 has, at its free end projecting from the reinforcement 10, a through hole 28 allowing access. receive one or more rotation axes of the armrest 8 in order to mount the armrest 8 in a mobile rotational manner on the seat back 6. The support element 12 includes a fixing interface 30 extending between the two receiving tabs 26 in the transverse direction D, made of material with the receiving tabs 26 and fixed to the frame 10. The fastening interface 30 comprises two fastening plates 32, each extending in the transverse direction between one of the receiving lugs 26 and a central end 34. The fastening plates 32 have, for example, the same shape, and the support element 12 is thus substantially symmetrical with respect to an axis extending in the upward direction and passing through the center of the support element 12 in the transverse direction, as shown in [Fig. 3]. Thus, each fastening plate 32 includes, for example, at least one through hole 36 extending in the fastening plate 32 between the receiving lug 26 and the central end 34 and receiving a weld bead 38 for fastening each fastening plate 32 to the frame 10 to ensure the fastening of the support element 12 to the frame 10.Each fixing plate 32 may further include at least one hole 40 for fixing a cover onto the frame 10, for example by clipping into the hole 40. As can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the fixing plates 32 are not necessarily flat and may include at least one recess 42 allowing the shape of the fixing plates 32 to be adapted to that of the frame 10, the fixing plates 32 thus conforming to the shape of the part of the frame 10 against which the fixing interface 30 extends. The central ends 34 of the two fixing plates 32 are spaced apart along the transverse direction D so that the fixing plates 32 are not in contact with each other. The space between the two fixing plates 32 extends, for example, substantially to the center of the frame 10 along the transverse direction D. According to the elevation direction Z, each fixing plate 32 is delimited by a lower edge 44 and by an upper edge 46, each extending in the transverse direction between the receiving lug 26 and the corresponding central edge 34. The fixing plates 32 are connected to each other by at least one lower bridge 48 and one upper bridge 50, each bridge 48, 50 extending from one fixing plate 32 to the other in the transverse direction D. The bridges made it possible to ensure the connection between the fixing plates 32 and thus to make the support element 12 in one piece while maintaining the space between the fixing plates 32, which prevents the support element 12 from disturbing the behavior of the seat back 6 in the event of an impact, by reducing the transmission of energy from one lateral edge 18 of the frame 10 to the other. Bridges 48 and 50 are spaced apart along the Z-axis elevation direction so that A space extends along the elevation direction Z between the lower bridge 48 and the upper bridge 50, this space being delimited along the transverse direction D by the central ends 34 of the mounting plates 32. This space thus has the form of a first slot 52 extending mainly along the elevation direction Z between the lower bridge 48 and the upper bridge 50 and delimited by the central ends 34 along the transverse direction. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the lower bridge 48 and the upper bridge 50 extend on either side of the mounting plates 32 along the elevation direction Z, so that the first slot 52 extends over the entire height of the mounting interface 30. In addition, according to one embodiment, the lower bridge 48 and the fixing plates 32 are arranged to form a second slot 54 extending mainly in the transverse direction D in order to further reduce the transmission of energy through the fixing interface 30. For this purpose, the lower bridge 48 extends from the lower edge 44 of one fixing plate 32 to the lower edge 44 of the other fixing plate 32, from an area extending between the receiving tab 26 and the central edge 34 of these lower edges 44. Opposite the lower bridge 48, each plate 32 includes a material removal so as to form the second slot 54, as more particularly visible in [Fig. 3]. The first slot 52 opens into the second slot 54 at a lower end of the first slot 52 so that the space extending between the two fixing plates 32 has the shape of an inverted T, as particularly visible in [Fig.3].Each bridge 48, 50 comprises two legs 56 each connected to a mounting plate 32 and extending along the elevation direction Z and a bridge 58 extending along the transverse direction D between the two legs 56. For the lower bridge 48, the legs 56 extend under the mounting plates 32 projecting along the elevation direction Z from the lower edges 44 of the mounting plates 32 from an area of ​​these edges located between the receiving lug 26 and the central edge 34 when a second slot 54 is provided, as described previously. Thus, according to this embodiment, the bridge 58 of the lower bridge 48 has a width substantially equal to the width of the second slot 54. For the upper bridge 50, the legs 56 extend above the protruding fixing plates 32 in the elevation direction Z from the upper edges 46 of the fixing plates 32 to the level of the central edges 34 of the fixing plates 32.Thus, the bridge 58 of the upper bridge 50 has a width substantially equal to the width of the first slot 52. As previously stated, the support element 12 described above allows the seat back 6 to accommodate an armrest 8 without adding unwanted mechanical resistance to the frame 10 of the backrest 6. Thus, in the event of an impact against the backrest, the backrest 6 behaves like a similar backrest without any additional resistance. The armrest and the area at the receiving holes 24 for the rotation axes 14 of the backrest 6 are not damaged during this impact. Furthermore, the support element 12 is made from a single piece, which simplifies parts management, particularly during armrest assembly. It is understood that other forms of support element 12 could be considered. For example, the support element 12 could include an additional bridge extending into the first slot, and / or the lower and upper bridges could extend between the central edges 34 without extending below and above the mounting plates 32 in the Z-axis elevation direction.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle seat back (6) comprising a frame (10) extending between two side edges (18) in a direction transverse (D) and between a lower edge (20) and an upper edge (22) according to an elevation direction (Z) substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction (D), said backrest further comprising an element support (12) of an armrest (8) comprising two receiving legs (26) of an armrest (8) each extending in the vicinity of an edge lateral (18) of the frame (10), the receiving legs (26) being connected to each other by a fixing interface (30) of the support element (12) to the frame (10), characterized in that said fixing interface (30) comprises two fixing plates (32), each fixed to the frame (10) and extending from a receiving tab (26) to a central end (34), the central ends (34) of the plates of fixing (32) being spaced from each other in the direction transverse (D), the fixing plates (32) being connected to each other by at least two bridges (48, 50) spaced apart from each other according to the elevation direction (Z), said support element (12) being made in one piece.

2. A seat back according to claim 1, wherein the bridges (48, 50) define at least a first slot (52) between the ends central (34) of the fixing plates (32), said first slot (52) extending mainly in the elevation direction (Z).

3. A seat back according to claim 2, wherein the bridges (48, 50) define at least a second slot (54) between the plates of fixing (32), said second slot (54) extending mainly along the transverse direction (D).

4. A seat back according to claim 3, wherein the first slot (52) opens into the second slot (54) at a lower end of said first slot (52), in particular these two slots forming between they have a T.

5. A seat back according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which each bridge (48, 50) comprises two legs (56) each connected to a fixing plate (32) and extending in the elevation direction (Z) and a bridge (58) extending in the transverse direction (D) between both legs (56).

6. A seat back according to claim 5, wherein the bridges (58) extend on either side of the fixing plates (32) according to the elevation direction (Z).

7. A seat back according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the receiving legs (26) extend projecting from the frame (10) in a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the transverse (D) and elevation (Z) directions.

8. A seat back according to claim 7, wherein each leg of receiving (26) comprises a receiving orifice (28) of an axis of rotation of an armrest (8) at its free end, opposite the end of the receiving tab (26) connected to a fixing plate (32).

9. Seat backrest according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in wherein each fixing plate (32) comprises at least one orifice through (36), a weld bead (38) extending into said orifice (36) and securing the fixing plate (32) to the frame (10).

10. A seat back assembly comprising a seat back (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and an armrest (8) mounted mobile in rotation on the receiving legs (26) of the element of support (12) of the seat back (6).