Upholstery element of a vehicle seat frame, seat and associated assembly and disassembly methods

Abstract

Upholstery element of a vehicle seat frame, seat and associated assembly and disassembly methods. The upholstery element comprises a body including an external face and an internal face (7), a reversible fixing element (13) integral with the internal face (7) and including a tab (15), the reversible fixing element (13) being intended to cooperate with at least one complementary fixing element (14) extending over the seat frame, the tab (15) extending between a first end (19) integral with the internal face (7) of the upholstery element (3) and a second free end (21), opposite to the first end (19) in a longitudinal direction (L). The body includes a through opening (10) from the outer face to the inner face (7) and extending at least to the second end (21) of the tab (15) of the reversible fastening element (13). Figure for the abbreviation: 4

Description

Title of the invention: Trim element for a vehicle seat frame, seat and associated assembly and disassembly methods

[0001] The present invention relates to a trim element for a vehicle seat frame, of the type comprising a body comprising an external face and an internal face opposite the external face, at least one reversible fixing element secured to the internal face of the body and comprising a tab, the reversible fixing element being intended to cooperate with at least one complementary fixing element extending over the seat frame to fix the trim element to the frame, the tab extending between a first end secured to the internal face of the trim element and a second free end, opposite the first end in a longitudinal direction.

[0002] The invention also relates to a vehicle seat comprising such a trim element, as well as a method of assembling and disassembling such a trim element.

[0003] During the assembly of a vehicle seat, various covering elements, also called trim elements, are attached to the seat frame to conceal and / or protect certain underlying components of the frame and certain mechanical aspects of the seat. These covering elements are also very important for the aesthetic appearance of the seat and bring a particular quality to the vehicle. However, the installation and uninstallation of these elements can be difficult to carry out, particularly when the attachment points of the elements to the frame are obstructed or inaccessible. In some cases, these attachment points are completely concealed so as not to be visible to the user and detract from the aesthetics of the vehicle.

[0004] In order to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the trim elements, it is known to add guide elements on an inner face of the trim element or directly on the seat frame. This facilitates the positioning of the trim element and its movement between a mounted position and a dismounted position, the fixing being carried out using geometric and / or mechanical elements intended to cooperate with each other.

[0005] However, while these solutions make it easier to assemble the upholstery element to the seat frame, they do not necessarily make disassembly easier. Indeed, these guide elements are, in the majority of cases, concealed by the upholstery element itself and therefore do not allow the user to easily view and access the fixing points of the structure.

[0006] One of the aims of the invention is then to propose a trim element comprising a fixing element which is easily accessible by a user to allow the trim element to be assembled and disassembled without difficulty on or from the frame of the seat, and this, without damaging the trim element.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a trim element of the aforementioned type, in which the body comprises an opening passing through from the external face to the internal face and extending at least opposite the second end of the lug of the reversible fixing element.

[0008] By providing a through opening from the external face of the body of the trim element to the internal face of the body and located opposite the tab, or clip, access by the user to the tab is then simplified and the user can, by simply acting on the tab, disassemble the trim element quickly and without difficulty.

[0009] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the filling element comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0010] - the trim element is made of a single piece, the reversible fixing element having come from matter with the body;

[0011] - the second end of the leg extends away from the body in a direction transverse, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and corresponding to the direction separating the external face from the internal face of the body, the complementary fixing element being intended to extend between the internal face of the body and the leg in the transverse direction when the upholstery element is fixed to the seat frame;

[0012] - the body is substantially rigid, the leg being elastically deformable between a fixing position, in which the second end extends at a first distance from the internal face of the body in the transverse direction, and a disassembly position, in which the second end extends at a second distance from the internal face of the body in the transverse direction, the second distance being greater than the first distance;

[0013] - the tab comprises an actuating tab, extending in the vicinity of the second end, intended to receive a force exerted by a user through the opening to move the tab from the attachment position to the disassembly position;

[0014] - the leg has a protrusion extending projecting from the leg towards the face internal of the body, said protuberance cooperating with the complementary reversible fixing element when the upholstery element is fixed to the seat frame;

[0015] - the body comprises a guide element extending projecting from the internal face and intended to cooperate with a guide slot of the frame so as to guide a die translational placement in the longitudinal direction of the trim element between a mounted position, in which the fixing element cooperates with the complementary fixing element, and a disassembled position, in which the fixing element is separated from the complementary fixing element.

[0016] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a vehicle seat comprising a frame and a trim element as described above fixed to said frame, the frame comprising a complementary reversible fixing element cooperating with the reversible fixing element of the trim element, the seat comprising in particular a lever for raising the seat passing through the through opening of the trim element.

[0017] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a method of assembling a packing element as described above comprising the following steps: - placing the internal face of the body of the packing element opposite the frame, - moving the trim element in translation in the longitudinal direction until the reversible fixing element cooperates with the complementary reversible fixing element so as to move the trim element into a fixing position on the frame.

[0018] According to yet another aspect, the invention also relates to a method of disassembling a packing element as described above comprising the following steps: - insert a disassembly tool into the opening in the body opposite the second end of the tab, - using the disassembly tool, exert pressure on the tab so as to move the tab away from the internal face of the body to disengage the tab from the complementary fixing element of the seat frame, and - moving the upholstery element in translation in the longitudinal direction to a position in which the upholstery element is removed from the seat frame.

[0019] The invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of a vehicle seat comprising a packing element according to the invention,

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an exterior view of a trim element, here a seat side panel, and of the frame in the mounted position,

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an interior view of the packing element of [Fig.2] and the frame in the mounted position,

[0023] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the tab of the fixing element of the trim element of [Fig.3] in the fixing position, and

[0024] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a view of the interior of the packing element and of the frame in the disassembled position.

[0025] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a vehicle seat S is described comprising a frame 1 and a trim element 3. In the particular example illustrated in [Fig. 1], the trim element 3 is intended to cover a portion of the frame of the seat base. More particularly, the trim element 3 extends over a side of the frame of the seat base. Such a trim element 3 is known in particular as a seat valance, or casing. It is understood that such a trim element may be intended to cover any other portion of the seat frame, such as a portion of the backrest for example, by adapting the geometry of the trim element accordingly. It is also understood that a seat may comprise several trim elements according to the invention, for example to cover several portions of the seat frame.

[0026] In the description, the terms "interior" and "internal" designate that which is turned towards the interior of a seat, that is to say towards the frame of the seat, and the terms "exterior" and "external" designate that which is turned towards the exterior of the seat, that is to say towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0027] The trim element 3 comprises a body 5 extending between an internal face 7, intended to be applied to the seat frame 1, and an external face 9 opposite the internal face 7, visible in [Fig. 2], forming the part visible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle of the trim element 3.

[0028] The body 5 is designed to protect the underlying components of the frame and certain mechanical aspects of the seat. For this purpose, the body 5 is made of a substantially rigid material, such as a plastic material obtained by injection molding. The body 5 comprises an opening 10 passing through from the external face 9 to the internal face 7. The opening 10 is arranged to be accessible by a user and allows the user to have direct access, from the external face 9, to the frame 1 fixed to the trim element 3 on the side of its internal face 7, as will be described in more detail later. According to one embodiment, the trim element 3 further comprises a guide element 11, visible in [Fig. 3], extending projecting from the internal face 7 and intended to cooperate with a guide slot 12 of the frame 1, as will be described in more detail later.

[0029] According to the invention, the trim element 3 comprises a reversible fixing element 13, visible in [Fig. 3], extending over the internal face 7 of the body 5. The fixing element 13 is for example made in one piece with the body 5 and is integral with the internal face 7 of the body 5. In other words, the fixing element 13 is for example made in one piece with the internal face 7 of the body 5. When the reversible fixing element 13 is made in one piece with the body 5, the cost and manufacturing time required to produce the trim element are reduced compared to a fixing element which would be added and / or fixed to an already existing trim element.

[0030] The reversible fixing element 13 is intended to cooperate with a complementary fixing element 14 extending over the frame 1 to fix the filling element 3 to the frame 1, as will be described in more detail later.

[0031] The complementary fixing element 14, visible in particular in [Fig. 4], is part of the frame 1 and comprises an internal face 16 and an external face 17 extending opposite the internal face 7 of the body 5 of the trim element 3 when the latter is mounted on the frame. The complementary fixing element 14 also comprises an opening 18 passing through the external face 17 to the internal face 16. The opening 18 makes it possible to engage a part of the reversible fixing element 13 in order to fix the trim element 3 to the frame 1 as will be described later.

[0032] The guide element 11 is intended to cooperate with the guide slot 12 so as to guide a translational movement in a longitudinal direction L, shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, of the trim element 3 between a mounted position (visible in [Fig. 3]), in which the reversible fixing element 13 cooperates with the complementary fixing element 14, and a disassembled position (visible in [Fig. 5]), in which the reversible fixing element 13 is spaced from the complementary reversible fixing element 14. The presence of the guide element makes it possible to guide the translational movement of the trim element 3 to mount and / or dismount it on the frame 1. Thus, when mounting the trim element 3 on the frame 1, the guide element 11 is inserted into the guide slot 12 in a transverse direction T, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.The trim element 3 is then moved in translation along the longitudinal direction L by sliding the guide element 11 in the slot 12, between the disassembled position in which the guide element 11 is located at a first end of the guide slot 12 and the mounted position, in which the guide element 11 is located at an opposite end of the guide slot 12 along the longitudinal direction L. The cooperation of the guide element 11 with the guide slot 12 makes it possible to assist the user in the translational movement and the fixing and disassembly of the trim element 3 on the frame 1 are thus facilitated. For a seat facing the windshield of the vehicle, the longitudinal direction corresponds for example to the front-rear direction of the vehicle and the transverse direction corresponds to the direction separating the external face 9 from the internal face 7 of the . body 5, which corresponds for example to the width of the vehicle.

[0033] The reversible fixing element 13 comprises a tab 15, shown in [Fig.4], extending in the longitudinal direction L between a first end 19 secured to the internal face 7 of the trim element 3 and a second free end 21, opposite the first end 19 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0034] The second end 21 of the tab 15 extends at a distance from the body 5 in the transverse direction T, as shown in [Fig. 3]. Thus, when the filling element 3 is fixed to the frame 1, the complementary fixing element 14 extends between the internal face 7 of the body 5 and the tab 15 in the transverse direction T, the tab 15 being engaged in the opening 18 of the complementary fixing element 14.

[0035] The tab 15 is advantageously elastically deformable between a fixing position, in which the second end 21 of the tab 15 extends at a first distance from the internal face 7 of the body 5 in the transverse direction T, and a disassembly position, in which the second end 21 of the tab 15 extends at a second distance from the internal face 7 of the body 5 in the transverse direction T, the second distance being greater than the first distance. The elastic deformability characteristic of the tab 15 allows it to be easily moved away from the internal face 7 by a user to move it from its fixing position to its disassembly position and to return to its initial position, i.e. the fixing position, when the user releases the pressure exerted.

[0036] The tab 15 includes a protrusion 27, visible in [Fig.4]. The protrusion 27 projects from the tab 15 towards the internal face 7 of the body 5, and cooperates with the complementary reversible fixing element 14 when the trim element 3 is fixed to the frame 1. By cooperating, it is meant that the protrusion 27 bears against the complementary reversible fixing element in the longitudinal direction L. Thus, when the trim element 3 is in its mounted position on the frame 1, the protrusion 27 advantageously prevents any translational movement along the longitudinal axis L from the mounted position to the dismounted position and therefore makes it possible to fix the trim element 3 on the frame 1. The cooperation of the protrusion 27 with the complementary reversible fixing element 14 forms a mechanical clipping system which makes it possible to fix and block a relative movement between the trim element 3 and the seat frame 1.

[0037] The tab 15 further comprises an actuating tab 25. The actuating tab 25 has a substantially parallelepiped shape and extends between the second end 21 and the protuberance 27. By substantially parallelepiped, it is meant that the tab 25 does not necessarily form a perfect parallelepiped but has a shape approaching that of a parallelepiped. Alternatively, the tab 25 does not have a parallelepiped shape but has a shape compatible with the complementary fixing element 14. By compatible it is understood that the shape of the tongue 25 does not hinder the translational movement in the longitudinal direction L of the trim element 3 relative to the frame.

[0038] The actuating tab 25 is intended to withstand a force exerted by a user through the opening 10 in order to move the tab 15 from the fixing position to the disassembly position. The tab 25 advantageously has a contact surface on which pressure can be easily achieved by the user using, for example, a suitable tool passing through the opening 10. The contact surface is thus, for example, a substantially flat contact surface.

[0039] The opening 10 extends at least opposite the second end 21 of the tab 15 of the reversible fixing element 13. In the example illustrated in [Fig. 2], the opening 10 extends between two lateral edges 10A and 10B and extends in particular over a length, taken in an elevation direction Z, greater than the length, also taken in the elevation direction, of the tab 15. In order not to harm the aesthetics of the seat and to remain barely visible from inside the passenger compartment, the opening 10 can be formed in a shoulder of the body 5, the shoulder extending in the transverse direction T. In fact, the opening 10 is oriented, from the lateral edge 10A to the lateral edge 10B, in an intermediate direction between the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T.The opening 10 being located opposite the tab 15, the user simply has to let himself be guided by the through opening 10 in order to locate the tab 15 and the reversible fixing element 13. The elevation direction Z is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal directions L and transverse directions T and corresponds for example to the height of the vehicle.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the trim element 3 also comprises at least one lower hook 30, for example two hooks as shown in Figures 3 and 5, extending projecting from the inner face 7 of the body 5. The or each hook 30 extends in the elevation direction Z between a first end secured to the inner face 7 of the trim element 3 and a second free end, opposite the first end in the elevation direction Z. The or each lower hook 30 is intended to cooperate with one or more lower transverse openings 31 of the frame 1 provided for this purpose. The cooperation of the hooks 30 with the openings 31 makes it possible to increase the number of fixing points of the trim element 3 on the frame 1 to obtain a more solid fixing system and to assist the mounting of the trim element 3 on the frame 1.The cooperation of the hooks 30 with the openings 31 being of a purely geometric nature, it does not make the assembly and disassembly system more difficult for the user. In addition, the hooks 30 make it possible to support the filling element 3 during the assembly and disassembly of the filling element 3 on or from the frame 1. and allow the trim element 3 to be guided in the elevation direction Z during the translation of the trim element 3 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the vehicle seat S also comprises a raising lever (not shown) mounted on the frame 1 and passing through the opening 10 of the trim element 3 to be accessible to an occupant seated on the seat. The opening 10 being already present on the trim element 3 to give the user access to the raising lever, it is advantageously reused to allow access to the tab 15 of the reversible fixing element 13 in order to easily and quickly disassemble the trim element 3 from the frame 1. By reused, it is understood that the opening 10 already present is used as is for the purpose of the invention, or is slightly modified and adapted, in particular by means of its geometric parameters such as its width taken along the longitudinal direction L and / or its height taken along the elevation direction Z, in order to give the user access to the tab 15.As is known, such a raising lever makes it possible to modify the height of the seat base in relation to the vehicle floor.

[0042] In order to assemble the trim element 3 to the frame 1, the user engages the lower hooks 30 of the trim element 3 in the lower openings 31 of the frame 1 provided for this purpose. The user then tilts the trim element 3 in order to place the internal face 7 of the body 5 opposite the frame 1. This movement engages the guide element 11 in the guide slot 12. The user moves the trim element 3 in translation in the longitudinal direction L by sliding the guide element 11 in the slot 12, from the disassembled position in which the guide element 11 is located at a first end of the guide slot 12 to the assembled position, in which the guide element 11 is located at an opposite end of the guide slot 12 in the longitudinal direction L.This translational movement of the trim element 3 along the longitudinal direction L makes it possible, concomitantly, to force the engagement of the tab 15 in the opening 18 of the complementary fixing element 14, so as to move the tab 15 from its disassembly position to its fixing position. The tab 15 being engaged in the opening 18 and on the internal face of the complementary fixing element, the protuberance 27 of the tab prevents any translational movement along the longitudinal direction L from the mounted position to the disassembled position and therefore makes it possible to fix the trim element 3 on the frame 1.

[0043] In order to disassemble the trim element 3, the user engages from outside the opening 10, that is to say from the side of the external face of the body 5 of the trim element, a disassembly tool, such as a screwdriver or his finger, in the opening 10 of the body 5 opposite the second end 21 of the tab 15. The user then exerts pressure, by means of the disassembly tool, on the actuating tab 25 of the tab 15, so as to move the tab 15 away from the internal face 7 of the body 5 to move the tab 15 from its fixing position to its disassembly position. The user thus disengages the tab 15 from the complementary fixing element 14 of the frame 1. The tab 15 being disengaged from the complementary fixing element 14, translation along the longitudinal axis L is made possible. The user then moves the trim element 3 in translation along the longitudinal direction L, being guided by the guide element 11 translated longitudinally in the guide slot 12 to the disassembled position shown in [Fig. 5], of the trim element 3 on the seat frame 1.The user tilts the filling element 3 by moving the internal face 7 of the body 5 away from the frame 1 in order to disengage the guide element 11 from the guide slot 12 and he subsequently disengages the lower hooks 30 from the lower openings 31 of the frame in order to separate the filling element 3 from the frame 1.

[0044] The trim element 3 according to the invention makes it easier to assemble and disassemble the trim element on the seat frame 1, outside the vehicle, as well as inside the vehicle. The through opening 10 is accessible from inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, which allows the user to easily insert a disassembly tool through the opening 10. However, the opening 10 remains fairly discreet so as not to make the trim element unsightly. Since the opening 10 is located opposite the tab 15, the user is guided by the opening to the tab 15 to which he has easy access. Since the tab 15 is elastically deformable, the user does not have to exert too much effort to disengage the tab 15 from the complementary fixing element 14.In addition, the guide element 11 intended to cooperate with the guide slot 12 makes it possible to assist the translational movement in the longitudinal direction L of the trim element 3 carried out by the user in order to move the trim element from its mounted position to its dismounted position, and vice versa.

Claims

Claims

1. A trim element (3) for a vehicle seat frame (1) (S) comprising a body (5) comprising an external face (9) and an internal face (7) opposite the external face (9), at least one reversible fixing element (13) secured to the internal face (7) of the body (5) and comprising a tab (15), the reversible fixing element (13) being intended to cooperate with at least one complementary fixing element (14) extending over the seat frame (1) to fix the trim element (3) to the frame (1), the tab (15) extending between a first end (19) secured to the internal face (7) of the trim element (3) and a second free end (21), opposite the first end (19) in a longitudinal direction (L),characterized in that the body (5) comprises a through opening (10) from the external face (9) to the internal face (7) and extending at least opposite the second end (21) of the lug (15) of the reversible fixing element (13).,

2. A trim element (3) of a vehicle seat frame according to claim 1, wherein the trim element (3) is made in one piece, the reversible fixing element (13) being integral with the body (5).

3. A trim element (3) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second end (21) of the tab (15) extends away from the body (5) in a transverse direction (T), substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and corresponding to the direction separating the external face (9) from the internal face (7) of the body (5), the complementary fixing element (14) being intended to extend between the internal face (7) of the body (5) and the tab (15) in the transverse direction (T) when the trim element (3) is fixed to the seat frame (1).

4. A trim element (3) according to claim 3, wherein the body is substantially rigid, the tab (15) being elastically deformable between a fixing position, in which the second end (21) extends at a first distance from the internal face (7) of the body (5) in the transverse direction (T), and a disassembly position, in which the second end (21) extends at a second distance from the internal face (7) of the body (5) in the transverse direction (T), the second distance being greater than the first distance.

5. A trim element (3) according to claim 4, wherein the tab (15) comprises an actuating tab (25), extending adjacent the second end (21), for receiving a force exerted by a user through the opening (10) to move the tab (15) from the attachment position to the disassembly position.

6. A trim element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tab (15) has a protrusion (27) extending projecting from the tab (15) towards the internal face (7) of the body (5), said protrusion (27) cooperating with the complementary reversible fixing element (14) when the trim element (3) is fixed to the seat frame (1).

7. A trim element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (5) comprises a guide element (11) extending projecting from the internal face (7) and intended to cooperate with a guide slot (12) of the frame (1) so as to guide a translational movement in the longitudinal direction (L) of the trim element (3) between a mounted position, in which the fixing element (13) cooperates with the complementary fixing element (14), and a disassembled position, in which the fixing element (13) is spaced from the complementary fixing element (14).

8. Vehicle seat (S), comprising a frame (1) and a trim element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims fixed to said frame (1), the frame (1) comprising a complementary reversible fixing element (14) cooperating with the reversible fixing element (13) of the trim element (3), the seat (S) comprising in particular a seat raising lever passing through the through opening (10) of the trim element (3).

9. Method for assembling a trim element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: - placing the internal face (7) of the body (5) of the trim element (3) opposite the frame (1), - moving the trim element (3) in translation in the longitudinal direction (L) until the reversible fixing element (13) cooperates with the complementary reversible fixing element (14) so as to move the trim element (3) into a fixing position on the frame (1).

10. A method of disassembling a trim element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: - engage a disassembly tool in the opening (10) of the body (5) opposite the second end (21) of the tab (15), - exerting, by means of the disassembly tool, pressure on the tab (15) so as to move the tab (15) away from the internal face (7) of the body (5) to disengage the tab (15) from the complementary fixing element (14) of the seat frame (1), and - moving the trim element (3) in translation in the longitudinal direction (L) to a position in which the trim element (3) is removed from the seat frame (1).

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