Motor vehicle equipped with a spare wheel

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a chassis (10) which supports: - a side door (19), - a seat (20) comprising a backrest (22) and a seat cushion (21) located in front of the backrest (22) and having a first side facing said side door (19), - mounting means (30) for the seat on the chassis, arranged so that the seat cushion and the chassis define a storage space for a spare wheel (50). According to the invention, the mounting means are configured to allow the removal or insertion of a spare wheel into or out of said storage space, through said first side and / or through the front of the seat. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 4

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle equipped with a wheel of rescue Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the arrangement of spare wheels in motor vehicles.

[0002] It relates more particularly to a motor vehicle comprising a chassis which delimits a floor and which supports at least one side door, at least one seat which includes a backrest and a seat located in front of the backrest and which has a first side turned towards the side door closest to this seat, and means for mounting the seat on the chassis, arranged so that the seat and the floor delimit between them a storage space for a spare wheel.

[0003] The invention finds a particularly advantageous application in utility vehicles, typically in vans, whether they are in cab or tipper version. State of the art

[0004] It is known to place a spare tire in a vehicle, for example in the vehicle's trunk. This solution is not optimal, particularly since the spare tire then occupies part of this storage space. Another drawback is that when the vehicle is loaded, accessing the tire requires first removing all the loaded items.

[0005] It is also known to place the spare wheel under the chassis, for example at the front or rear of the vehicle. This solution is not optimal either, particularly because access to the wheel is neither easy nor clean. Another drawback is that this solution requires the use of a heavy wheel cradle. Finally, while these spaces were previously left free on internal combustion engine vehicles, they are now occupied in electric vehicles, for example by a traction battery or a fuel cell.

[0006] Document FR2687629 then suggests placing the spare wheel under one of the vehicle seats.

[0007] In this document, the spare wheel is more specifically installed in a space provided in the upper part of the vehicle's fuel tank, which allows access from inside the vehicle.

[0008] The disadvantage of this solution is that access to the spare wheel requires tilting the seat cushion, which is again not ideal when the vehicle is loaded and the seat is covered with objects. Presentation of the invention

[0009] In order to remedy the aforementioned drawback of the prior art, the present invention proposes to place the spare wheel in yet another different configuration.

[0010] More particularly, the invention proposes a vehicle as defined in the introduction, in which the means for mounting the seat on the floor are shaped to allow the extraction or insertion of a spare wheel out of or into said storage space, through the first side and / or the front of the seat.

[0011] It should be noted that placing the spare wheel under the seat so that it can be extracted from the front or the side of the seat is not an intuitive solution since the seat legs and the limited space at the front of the seat normally prevent this extraction.

[0012] The invention therefore proposes a counter-intuitive solution, consisting of developing means of fixing the seat to the chassis which make it possible to extract the spare wheel from the side and / or the front of the seat and to replace it easily.

[0013] This solution therefore allows access to the spare wheel very easily, whether the vehicle is loaded or not.

[0014] It is also compatible with all types of vehicles, including vans, and it does not encroach on the vehicle's loading volume.

[0015] It is lightweight since the components required for its implementation are few in number and can be lightweight.

[0016] It is finally easy to use since the wheel remains clean, easily accessible and at a convenient height for the user who wishes to grab it or put it back under the seat.

[0017] Other advantageous and non-limiting features of the vehicle according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are as follows: - the mounting means include a supporting structure on which the seat is mounted, and, on the first side of the seat, at least one first leg which is mounted in a mobile or removable manner relative to the supporting structure; - the mounting means include, on the first side of the seat, a support comprising: H a second foot which extends between the floor and the seat and which is mounted to rotate flexibly relative to the chassis and the seat around an axis of rotation, H means of fixing the two feet to each other, H means for blocking the rotational mobility of the second foot relative to the chassis and the seat in a usage position in which the first foot extends between the floor and the seat, and H means of maneuver adapted to free the rotational mobility of the second foot in relation to the chassis and the seat; - the second foot is placed behind the first foot; - the locking means comprise at least one finger which is mounted movable at an upper or respectively lower end of the first foot between a position engaged in a latch of the seat or respectively of the chassis, and a retracted position out of said latch; - the means of operation include at least one lever that can be grasped manually and is adapted to move the finger between its engaged and retracted positions, and at least one means of elastically returning the finger to the engaged position is provided; - a panel such as a piece of carpet is planned, placed above the frame, in the storage space; - a strap is provided, one end of which is fixed to one side of the panel located at the rear of the seat and / or opposite said door, and the other end of which is free; - means are provided for attaching the free end of the strap on the front side and / or the first side of the seat, said means of attachment preferably comprising a strap element which carries an attachment loop for the strap or a coating gripping the free end of the strap; - there is provided in said storage space at least one return for the strap, located at the rear of the seat and / or opposite said door; - a spare wheel is provided, housed in the said storage space.

[0018] Of course, the various features, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Detailed description of the invention

[0019] The following description with regard to the attached drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

[0020] On the attached drawings:

[0021] [Fig-1] is a schematic view of an interior part of a motor vehicle in accordance with the invention;

[0022] [Fig.2] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a leg of a seat of the motor vehicle of [Fig.1];

[0023] [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective view of another foot of the motor vehicle seat of [Fig.1];

[0024] [Fig.4] is a schematic perspective view of the interior part of the motor vehicle of [Fig.1], shown from a different angle, and on which a wheel of rescue is illustrated in two distinct positions;

[0025] [Fig.5] represents schematic side views of the motor vehicle seat [Fig. 1], illustrating the steps of changing and unloading a spare wheel.

[0026] A motor vehicle generally comprises a chassis on which all the vehicle components are mounted (body panels, doors, powertrain, braking system, axles and wheels...).

[0027] This chassis, together with the body panels and the doors, defines a passenger compartment that can accommodate a driver and passengers.

[0028] It includes a floor which supports seats for its drivers and passengers.

[0029] Here, the term “seat” will refer both to an armchair designed to receive a single person than a bench designed to accommodate several people.

[0030] As shown in [Fig.1], seat 20 is in the form of a bench.

[0031] This seat 20 can be installed either in the front row (next to the driver's seat) or in the rear row, provided that the vehicle is equipped with them.

[0032] In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used in relation to this motor vehicle, the front of an element designating the side of that element which is turned towards the hood of the vehicle and the rear designating the side of that element which is turned towards the trunk.

[0033] Similarly, the terms "lower" (or "bottom") and "upper" (or "top") will be used in relation to this motor vehicle, the lower side of an element designating the part of that element which is turned towards the floor of the vehicle and the upper side designating the part of that element which is turned towards the ceiling.

[0034] Finally, the term "lateral" will also be used in relation to this motor vehicle, to designate a side turned towards one or the other of the vehicle's doors.

[0035] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 1], the motor vehicle being of the van type, it is equipped with a single row of seats. Therefore, seat 20 shown in [Fig. 1] is a seat for two front passengers, located on the right side of the vehicle, next to the driver's seat.

[0036] In this [Fig.1], a part of the floor 11 of the chassis 10 is shown. This floor 11 is shown here in the form of a substantially flat metal plate (it only has a succession of shallow recesses to increase its rigidity).

[0037] The seat 20 comprises a seat 21 and a backrest 22. The seat is a single piece, while the backrest consists of two separate parts (see [Fig. 4]). In the position of use, the seat 21 is oriented substantially horizontally, in front of the backrest. The backrest, on the other hand, is oriented substantially vertically.

[0038] This seat 20 is fixed to the floor using fixing means 30.

[0039] In a very schematic way on [Fig.1], these fixing means first of all comprise a load-bearing structure 31 in the form of a horizontal frame, formed of four beams.

[0040] They further comprise, on one side of the seat 20 (hereinafter referred to as the driver's side), two fixed vertical feet 32 ​​(only one of which is visible in [Fig.1]), and, on the other side of the seat 20 (hereinafter referred to as the door side), a support 300 comprising two movable feet 310, 320. These four fixed and movable feet are distributed at the corners of the supporting structure 31 and allow the seat 20 to be raised above the floor 11, so as to delimit a storage space 40 for a spare wheel 50 (see [Fig.4]).

[0041] The four fixed and movable feet are arranged so that the spare wheel 50 has enough space to stand on them.

[0042] For this, the distance between two opposite feet is greater than or equal to the diameter of the spare wheel 50. The height of the fixed and movable feet is greater than the width of the spare wheel 50.

[0043] The storage space 40 is closed, on the rear side, by a partition 18 allowing the trunk of the van to be separated from the passenger compartment (see [Fig.5]).

[0044] It is partially closed on the driver's side by components such as the gearshift lever, the handbrake...

[0045] It is, however, open to the front and to the side.

[0046] The distance between the two movable feet 310, 320 is less than the diameter of the spare wheel 50, so that it is not possible to remove the spare wheel by passing between them.

[0047] Similarly, the space between seat 20 and the vehicle's dashboard is not sufficient to allow the spare wheel to be removed through the front of seat 20.

[0048] It is in this context that the support 300, which, as recalled, includes the two movable feet 310, 320, is arranged so that it can be manually operated to retract and allow access for removing the spare wheel 50 and replacing it. More precisely, the idea is to ensure that the front foot on the door side can retract and that the spare wheel 50 can be removed diagonally, that is, from the front and the side of the seat.

[0049] As shown in [Fig. 1], the support 300 is preferably formed from a single, monolithic piece. It therefore includes at least one cross member 340 which connects these two movable feet 310, 320 and secures them to each other. Here, each movable foot 310, 320 is in the form of a vertical metal tube, and two cross members 340 are also in the form of metal tubes. If the two movable feet Sections 310 and 320 are straight, while the two cross members 340 are partially curved to adapt to the geometry of the rest of the vehicle. These two cross members 340 are vertically spaced apart to maximize the rigidity of the support.

[0050] Here, the support 300 is therefore produced by assembling metal tubes through welding operations, but alternatively, it could be made differently. Typically, it could be in the form of a plastic panel or a stamped metal part.

[0051] The support 300 is mounted here so as to be able to pivot relative to the supporting structure 31 and relative to the floor 11.

[0052] For this purpose, one of the two movable feet 310, here the rear foot, is mounted so as to be able to rotate around its central longitudinal axis Al. For this purpose, as shown in [Fig.2], its ends 311, 312 are engaged through two coaxial openings provided in annular metal flanges 313, 314 respectively fixed to the load-bearing structure 31 and to the floor 11.

[0053] When the support 300 rotates around this central longitudinal axis Al, the other of the movable feet 320, here the front foot, describes an arc-shaped movement outwards.

[0054] The support 300 is thus movable between a working position ([Fig. 1]) in which the front movable leg 320 extends between the floor 11 and the load-bearing structure 31, at one of the corners of the latter, and a retracted position ([Fig. 4]) in which it extends outside the vehicle (the support 300 passing through the door 19, which must then be opened). In this retracted position, the spare wheel can easily be removed from the storage compartment 40.

[0055] Locking means 330 of the support 300 are provided in the position of use ( [Fig.1]).

[0056] These locking means 330 could take various forms. For example, they could include snap-on means adapted to clip onto corresponding raised areas on the floor or under the seat.

[0057] But here, as shown in [Fig.3], they are in the form of two fingers 331, 332 mounted sliding in the front movable foot 320 and adapted to engage in strikes 13 (cavities) provided correspondingly in the floor 11 and in the lower face of the supporting structure 31.

[0058] These fingers 331, 332 have cylindrical shapes of revolution, of equal diameter, within operating clearance, to the inner diameter of the tube forming the front movable foot 320.

[0059] These fingers 331, 332 are mobile in the movable foot 320 between a position engaged in its strike plate 13 and a retracted position out of its strike plate.

[0060] In the engaged position, these fingers come to rest against the bottom of the delimited cavities by the latches, so as to form a support for the load-bearing structure 31 and therefore for the seat 20.

[0061] A return means allows these fingers 331, 332 to be pushed back into the engaged position. Here, this return means is in the form of a spring 339 housed in the front movable foot 320 and compressed between the two fingers 331, 332. This spring 339 thus allows the upper finger 331 to be pushed back into the cavity provided in the supporting structure 31, and the lower finger 332 into the cavity provided in the floor 11.

[0062] Means 335 are provided for operating these fingers 331, 332, allowing them to be withdrawn from their recesses in the retracted position, in order to free the pivoting mobility of the support 300. These means are in the form of two levers 336, 337 extending radially from the fingers 331, 332 (on the side of their opposite ends). These levers are located on the inside of the vehicle (towards the driver when the support 300 is in the operating position). They extend through two slots 326, 327 provided in the tube forming the front movable foot 320.

[0063] These two lights extend straight along each other's axis, parallel to the central longitudinal axis of this movable foot 320, but do not communicate with each other. They therefore allow the user to slide the fingers 331, 332 in this foot, one towards the other, in the retracted position.

[0064] To retain the fingers in the retracted position within the movable foot 320, a notch is provided at the ends opposite the lights 326, 327. The shape of each of these notches is designed so that the user can wedge the lever into it. In practice, each notch forms a V with the straight part of the light. When the user places a lever in this notch, the spring 339 holds the lever at the bottom of the notch, so that the corresponding finger does not interfere with the pivoting of the support 300.

[0065] It is understood that the spring 339 allows the fingers 331, 332 to be pushed back into the engaged position in their catches. However, it has limited stiffness, since the user must be able to compress it manually. Its stiffness is therefore insufficient for the front movable foot 320 to provide adequate support for the load-bearing structure 31, particularly when larger users sit on the seat 20.

[0066] Means are then provided to retain the fingers in the engaged position at the bottom of the cavities. Thanks to these means, when a user sits on the seat, the fingers are locked in the engaged position and the front movable foot 320 is therefore able to support the seat 20.

[0067] These means are presented here in the form of notches (not visible in the figures) provided at the ends of the two lights which are located opposite each other. These notches have shapes similar to those provided at the opposite ends of the two lights 326, 327.

[0068] In practice, each light therefore has a rectilinear shape with two notches at its ends, which gives it a C or S shape.

[0069] At this stage, it is understood that the spare wheel 50 can be removed from the vehicle and replaced by the used wheel.

[0070] To facilitate these two extraction and replacement operations, the spare wheel 50 is installed on a panel placed on the floor 11.

[0071] As shown in [Fig.4], this panel 60 has dimensions greater than or equal to those of the spare wheel 50.

[0072] Here, this panel 60 has an octagonal shape, having a smaller width greater than or equal to the diameter of the spare wheel 50. It therefore has eight sides, including a front side 61 and a rear side (not visible).

[0073] This panel 60 is preferably lightweight and flexible. It could, for example, be a plastic partition. Here, it is more likely a piece of carpet which, by its nature, will slide easily across the floor 11 when a user attempts to remove the spare wheel 50 from its location.

[0074] In order to easily return the used wheel to this location (or a new wheel), this piece of carpet is equipped with a strap 70, one end of which 71 is attached to its rear edge.

[0075] As shown in the top view of [Fig.5], this strap 70 is long enough to be passed over the spare wheel 50 and pulled to the front of the seat 20.

[0076] As shown in the two lower views of this [Fig.5], it allows a pulling force to be exerted on the panel 60 in order to bring the used wheel back into the storage space 40.

[0077] Means are provided for attaching the free end 72 of this strap in order to hold it in a position accessible to the user. In practice, a section of strap 80 is attached to the front edge 61 of the carpet panel 60. This section of strap 80 could be equipped with a loop for attaching the free end 72 of the strap 70. Here, to make the operation easier, it is instead provided with an automatic fastening means, such as a Velcro® strip.

[0078] As shown in the second view of [Fig.5], to extract the spare wheel 50 from the storage space 40, it is therefore sufficient to open the support 300, then detach this Velcro® strip, and finally pull on the section of strap 80 in order to slide the carpet panel 60 and the spare wheel 50 outwards.

[0079] To replace the worn wheel in this position, the solution used here consists of first tilting the seat 21 relative to the supporting structure 31 in order to easily access the free end 71 of the strap 70. This operation is, of course, not essential. Then the worn wheel is installed on the carpet panel 60. Finally, by pulling on the free end 72 of the strap 70, the user can replace the used wheel in place of the spare wheel 50.

[0080] For this purpose, links are provided in the storage space 40 so that a tensile force exerted on this free end 72 allows the panel 60 to be returned to its initial location.

[0081] In practice, at least one return 91 is provided, located at the height of the panel 60, at the rear of the storage space 40.

[0082] Preferably, a second reference 92 is also provided, located above the first, at a distance from the latter substantially equal to the width of the spare wheel 50.

[0083] Finally, it may advantageously be provided for a third reference located in front of the second and at the same height as the latter.

[0084] Thus, when the used wheel is properly positioned in the storage space 40, the user can pass the strap 70 around the wheel, so that its free end 72 remains accessible for next time.

[0085] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and represented, but a person skilled in the art will be able to make any variation in accordance with the invention.

[0086] Typically, it could be envisaged that three of the feet (including the two rear feet and the front foot on the driver's side) are fixed and that only the front right foot is mobile or retractable (preferably removable without tools).

[0087] The feet could also be arranged so that once the front foot is retracted, the spare wheel can be extracted from the side of the seat (and not from the side and the front, as shown in the figures).

[0088] It should also be noted that the invention will also apply to a vehicle in which the driving position will be on the right, in which case the feet of the seat will be positioned symmetrically with respect to what is shown in the figures.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle comprising a chassis (10) which delimits a floor (11) and which supports: - a side door (19), - a seat (20) which comprises a backrest (22) and a seat (21) located at the front of the backrest (22) and which has a first side facing said side door (19), - mounting means (30) of the seat (20) on the chassis (10) arranged so that the seat (21) and the floor (11) delimit between them a storage space (40), characterized in that the mounting means (30) are shaped to allow the extraction from said storage space (40) and the introduction into said storage space (40) of a spare wheel (50), by said first side and / or by the front of the seat (20).

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, in which the mounting means (30) comprise a supporting structure (31) on which the seat (21) is mounted, and, on the first side of the seat (20), at least one first leg (320) which is mounted in a movably or removable manner relative to the supporting structure (31).

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the mounting means (30) comprise, on the first side of the seat (20), a support (300) comprising: - a second leg (310) which extends between the floor (11) and the seat (20) and which is mounted to be able to rotate relative to the chassis (10) and to the seat (20) about an axis of rotation (A1), - means for fixing the first leg (320) to the second leg (310), - means for locking (330) the rotational mobility of the second leg (310) relative to the chassis (10) and to the seat (20) in a position of use in which the first leg (320) extends between the floor (11) and the seat (20), and - operating means (335) adapted to release the rotational mobility of the second leg (310) relative to the chassis (10) and to the seat (20).

4. A motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the second leg (310) is placed at the rear of the first leg (320).

5. Motor vehicle according to claim 4, in which the locking means (330) comprise at least one finger (331, 332) which is mounted movable at an upper or respectively lower end of the first leg (320) between a position engaged in a latch (13) of the seat (20) or respectively of the chassis (10), and a position retracted from said latch (13).

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, in which the operating means (335) comprise at least one lever (336, 337) which can be grasped manually and is adapted to move the finger (331, 332) between its engaged and retracted positions, and in which at least one elastic return means (339) is provided for the finger (331, 332) in the engaged position.

7. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which a panel (60) such as a piece of carpet is provided, placed above the chassis (10), in the storage space (40).

8. Motor vehicle according to claim 7, in which a strap (70) is provided, one end (71) of which is fixed to one side of the panel (60) located at the rear of the seat (20) and / or opposite said door (19), and another end (72) of which is free.

9. Motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein means are provided for attaching the free end (72) of the strap (70) to the front side and / or the first side of the seat (20), said attachment means preferably comprising a strap element (80) which carries an attachment loop for the strap (70) or a covering gripping the free end (72) of the strap (70).

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, wherein there is provided in said storage space (40) at least one return (91, 92) for the strap (70), located at the rear of the seat (20) and / or opposite said door (19).

11. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a spare wheel (50) housed in said storage space (40).

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