vehicle equipped with a detachable tablet that can be attached to the back of a seat

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a support tablet (3), at least one seat (1) having a backrest (2) with a rear surface (4), and fastening elements enabling said tablet (3) to be attached to said rear surface (4). The tablet (3) is capable of occupying an active position in which it is attached to the rear surface (4) of the seat back (2) by extending in a horizontal plane. According to the invention, the support tablet (3) is mounted on the rear surface (4) of the backrest (2) by means of a pre-stressed return element (16), such that in the event of an accidental impact of the vehicle against an external obstacle, the support tablet (3) pivots downwards. The pre-stressed return element (16) tends to oppose this downward pivoting movement by pushing said support tablet (3) upwards. (See Figure 9 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: vehicle equipped with a detachable tablet capable of being attached to the back of a seat back

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle provided with a detachable shelf capable of being attached to the back of a seat back.

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

[0003] In order to avoid any ambiguity, a seat back in a functional position within the vehicle is slightly inclined rearwardly relative to a transverse and vertical plane YZ of said vehicle. The back then has a front surface against which the back of a passenger sitting on said seat is intended to come into contact, and a rear surface which is substantially parallel to the surface. If the seat in question is part of a front row of seats, the rear surface faces a row of seats, located just behind said front row. The back of the back is formed by this rear surface.

[0004] A vehicle according to the invention comprises at least one independent and detachable support shelf which can only occupy two positions: - an inactive position for which it is stored in a particular location in the vehicle specially configured to receive this support tablet, this location being able for example to be located in a pocket placed on the rear surface of the backrest of one of the vehicle's seats, -an active position in which it is fixed to the rear surface of the backrest of one of the vehicle seats, extending in a horizontal plane. In this active position, the support tablet will benefit a passenger who is seated behind the seat supporting said support tablet.

[0005] The terms "independent" and "detachable" applied to the support tablet mean that said tablet forms an isolated object, which can be handled as such, without being permanently fixed to a structural element of the vehicle or to an element of a seat of said vehicle.

[0006] The term "support tablet" is used in the context of the present invention, to distinguish it from an electronic tablet which may for example have a touch screen. Indeed, in the active position, the support tablet is similar to a horizontal plate intended to support objects such as for example, a smartphone, a computer laptop, a book or a can of drink.

[0007] A support tablet as defined above, when in the active position, must have at least a double requirement: -its attachment system to the rear surface of the seat back must be sufficiently robust so that it can support the above-mentioned objects stably and reliably, - it must be able to retract easily in the event of an accidental impact of the vehicle against an external obstacle, so that it cannot constitute a hard point for the person located directly behind it. Indeed, if it were to remain fixed to the rear surface of the seat while always extending in a horizontal plane following such an impact, it could prove dangerous for this person, causing injuries.

[0008] A vehicle according to the invention has an independent and detachable support shelf, meeting the two previous requirements.

[0009] The subject of the invention is a vehicle comprising an independent and detachable support shelf, a storage location for said support shelf, at least one seat having a backrest with a rear surface located opposite at least one second seat placed behind said seat, and fixing elements allowing said shelf to be fixed to said rear surface, said shelf being able to move from an inactive position for which it is stored in the storage location to an active position for which it is fixed to the rear surface of the seat backrest by extending in a horizontal plane.

[0010] According to the invention, the fixing elements comprise two bracket-shaped support pieces each comprising a first wall which is secured to the rear surface of the backrest and a second wall which is in continuity with said first wall by extending perpendicularly thereto, said second wall extending above the first wall, the shelf being pivotally mounted on the first wall by means of a pre-stressed return element, being snapped into the second wall, so that in the event of an accidental impact of the vehicle against an external obstacle, the support shelf separates from the second wall by pivoting downwards, the pre-stressed return element tending to oppose this downward pivoting movement by pushing said support shelf upwards.The particularity of a vehicle according to the invention is that in the event of an accidental impact of the vehicle against an external obstacle, the support shelf first comes into contact with the person behind it, then instantly begins, upon this contact, to pivot downwards relative to the first walls of the support parts. By pivoting downwards in this way, it will no longer constitute a rigid projection likely to injure the person located just behind it. Thanks to the presence of the pre-return element. constrained, the tablet will not pivot heavily downwards by inertia, but will on the contrary prematurely stop its rotational travel, tending to quickly pivot in the opposite direction upwards, under the effect of the pre-stressed return element which relaxes to return to its rest position. It then becomes easy to snap the support tablet back into the second walls of the support parts to replace it effortlessly in the active position. In the event of this accidental impact, the tablet therefore quickly retracts to increase the safety of the person located just behind it, while allowing said tablet to be easily and quickly replaced in the active position. The two support parts can be either fixed directly to the rear surface of the seat, or fixed to said rear surface by means of a support base, which will have been previously secured to said rear surface.Preferably, the two support parts are first fixed to the support shelf, and it is the assembly consisting of said support part and said fixing parts which is then secured to the rear surface of the seat back. The support shelf, to move from the active position to the inactive position or vice versa, must first be transported to reach its destination position. The storage location of the support tablet may, for example, be a pocket placed on the rear surface of the seat, or a vehicle door or on the back of the backrest of a rear and central seat of the vehicle. Advantageously, the support tablet is made of plastic, and advantageously, of PE (polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene).

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the prestressed return element is a spring.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the spring comprises two coaxial spiral segments each having a first end and a second end, the two first ends being extended by two parallel wires lying in a first plane and the two second ends being connected to each other by a wire forming a three-sided frame lying in a second plane which is parallel to the first plane, the spring being mounted between the support shelf and the support part so that: - the two spiral segments are threaded around a tablet rotation axis, and - the support tablet is secured to the two parallel wires, and -the support piece is secured to the wire forming the three-sided frame.

[0013] This spring is shaped to adapt to its immediate environment, dictated by the shapes of the support parts and the shelf and their arrangement with each other. When the shelf is going to detach from the second walls of the support parts during an accidental impact of the vehicle against an external obstacle, it will begin a downward pivoting accompanied by a separation between the two parallel wires and the wire forming the three-sided frame. This spacing is achieved by means of a certain force to counteract the natural effort produced by the spring. The support shelf will then tend to rise under the effect of a natural rapprochement between the two parallel wires and the wire forming the three-sided frame. The axis of rotation of the shelf is the one around which the shelf pivots in the event of an accidental impact of the vehicle against an external obstacle.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two support parts are at the same height on the rear surface of the seat back and are both aligned along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. These two support parts are well spaced from each other to the point where they are very close to two lateral edges of the support shelf or even tangent to said two lateral edges.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two right-angled support parts are fixed to a support base which is secured to the rear surface of the seat back, said support base being elongated and extending along a horizontal and transverse axis Y of the vehicle. This support base is an added part which is advantageously permanently fixed to the rear surface of the seat back, without projecting towards the rear of said rear surface in a very significant manner. Indeed, the presence of this support base must not encroach on the living space of a passenger who would be seated behind the seat equipped with the support tablet. Advantageously, this support base is made of plastic material and has good mechanical strength without weighing down the vehicle. In addition, the presence of this support base makes it possible to preserve the integrity of the seat back which is intended to receive the support tablet.The two support parts can be attached to the support base by any means, such as clips or screws.

[0016] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the support base has a vertical face having two fixing means, the first walls of the two support parts each comprising a complementary fixing means intended to cooperate with a fixing means of the first vertical face. In this way, in the active position, the two support parts of the support shelf are secured to the first vertical face of the support base, said shelf extending in a horizontal plane and therefore perpendicular to said first face.

[0017] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the means for fixing the vertical face of the support base are constituted by pins and the complementary means for fixing the first walls of the right-angled support parts are constituted by profiled openings into which the pins are inserted. Advantageously, the interaction between the pins and the profiled openings is a clipping type interaction, requiring no specific tool or any complex and / or restrictive handling.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the support base has a triangular cross-section and has a horizontal face constituting the lowest part of the support base and having two fixing means which are identical to those of the vertical face, and in the inactive position, the support tablet is stored along the rear surface of the seat so that the complementary fixing means of the first walls of the right-angled support pieces cooperate with the fixing means of the horizontal face of the support base. For this configuration, the active position and the inactive position of the support tablet are found on the seat and can almost be deduced from each other by a 90° rotation. In reality this rotation does not exist; it is just a view of the mind.The support base thus contributes, on the one hand, to ensuring the active position of the support tablet on the rear surface of the seat back, and on the other hand, to ensuring the storage of the tablet in the inactive position. Preferably, in the inactive position, when it extends along the rear surface of the back, the support tablet ensures extensive surface contact with said rear surface.

[0019] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the support tablet is rectangular in shape and has a thickness of between 2mm and 3mm, said support tablet having a first smooth and flat face and a second face which is parallel to said first face and which has stiffening ribs. In the active position, the support tablet acts as a rigid plate intended to support objects such as, for example, a smartphone, a laptop, a game console, a book or a can of drink. The tablet must be light while having good mechanical strength. The tablet must be able to perform its support function, without being too bulky or too heavy.

[0020] Another subject of the invention is a method of mounting a support shelf to the rear surface of a seat back to obtain a vehicle according to the invention.

[0021] According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: - a step of fixing the support base to the rear surface of the seat back, - a step of mounting the two support pieces at right angles to the shelf so that said shelf is pivotally secured to the first wall of each support piece and so that said shelf is snapped into the second wall of each of said support pieces, said mounting step being carried out by means of a spring inserted between each support piece and the support shelf, - a step of cooperation between the complementary fixing means of the first walls of the two support parts and the fixing means of the vertical face or the horizontal face of the support base in order to allow the support shelf to be in the active position or in the inactive position.

[0022] A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of having a support shelf whose active position is safe and reliable, and capable of easily retracting in the event of an accidental impact of the vehicle against an external obstacle. This support shelf also has the advantage of being able to be easily and quickly replaced in the active position, after it has retracted just after said accidental impact, thanks to the judicious presence of a pre-stressed return element which tends to push said support shelf upwards.

[0023] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0024] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of the back of a seat back of a vehicle according to the invention, the support tablet being in the active position,

[0025] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the back of a seat back of a vehicle according to the invention, the support tablet being in the inactive position,

[0026] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a tablet of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0027] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a spring intended for mounting a support shelf in a vehicle according to the invention,

[0028] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of a support piece and a spring intended for mounting a support shelf in a vehicle according to the invention,

[0029] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a support shelf of a vehicle according to the invention, on which two support pieces are mounted,

[0030] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a side view of a rear surface of a seat of a vehicle according to the invention and of a support tablet mounted on said surface in the active position,

[0031] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of a rear surface of a seat of a vehicle according to the invention and of a support tablet mounted on said surface in the active position,

[0032] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a side view of a rear surface of a seat of a vehicle according to the invention and a support shelf mounted on said surface in a downwardly pivoted position,

[0033] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of a rear surface of a seat of a vehicle according to the invention and a support shelf mounted on said surface in a downwardly pivoted position,

[0034] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a vehicle according to the invention comprises at least one seat 1 comprising a backrest 2 on which a support tablet 3 can be mounted. Schematically, the backrest 2 of the seat 1 is delimited by a front surface against which the back of an occupant of the vehicle who would be seated on said seat 1 is intended to come into contact, and by a rear surface 4 which is substantially parallel to the front surface and which faces a second seat which would be placed behind said seat 1. tablet 3 support is intended to be fixed to the rear surface 4 of the backrest 2, to serve as a tray for a passenger who would be seated on a row of seats located just behind the seat 1 carrying said tablet 3 support.

[0035] Referring to [Fig. 3], the support tablet 3 has a rectangular shape and a thickness of 2.5 mm. It is preferably made of polymer, such as for example PP (Polypropylene) or PE (Polyethylene). It is delimited by two main surfaces 5 that are flat and parallel, one surface 5 of which is smooth and the other surface of which is composed of stiffening grooves. A straight edge 11 of the support tablet 3 comprises two notches 12, 13 having predefined and complex shapes, said two notches 12, 13 being placed at the two ends of said straight edge 11 considered along a longitudinal axis of said straight edge 11, and encroaching a little on the smooth surface 5 of said support tablet 3. The term "support tablet" is used to clearly distinguish this tablet from an electronic tablet that may for example have a touch screen.This tablet is intended to support objects, such as a smartphone, a laptop, a book or a can of drink. This support tablet 3 is an independent and detachable element, which can be transported to any place in the vehicle or even outside of it. In other words, it is not irreversibly attached to any structural element of the vehicle.

[0036] Referring to Figures 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10, a support base 6 is fixed to the rear surface 4 of the backrest 2. This support base 6 is an elongated part, which is arranged on the rear surface 4 of the backrest 2 so that a longitudinal axis thereof extends along a horizontal and transverse axis Y of the vehicle.

[0037] Referring to Figures 2, 7 and 8, the support base 6 is a hollow part, schematically comprising a triangular cross-section, so that the support base 6 is delimited by a first wall 7 which is in contact with the rear surface 4 of the backrest 2, by a second lower wall 8 extending perpendicular to the rear surface 4 of the backrest under said first wall 7 and by a third connecting wall 9 extending in a vertical and transverse plane YZ of the vehicle and joining said first wall 7 and said second lower wall 8.

[0038] Referring to Figures 2, 7 and 9, the second lower wall 8 and the third connecting wall 9 of the support base 6 each comprise two male fixing means 10, which are separated from each other within the same wall 8, 9 and which are aligned along a horizontal and transverse axis Y of the vehicle inside said wall 8, 9. The male fixing means are pins 10 which emerge from the second lower wall 8 and from the third connecting wall 9 of the support base 6.

[0039] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, two support pieces 14, 15 are inserted into the two notches 12, 13 of the straight edge 11 of the support shelf 3, each using of a spring 16.

[0040] Referring to [Fig. 4], the spring 16 comprises two coaxial spiral segments 17, 18 each having a first end and a second end, the two first ends being extended by two parallel wires 19, 20 lying in a first plane and the two second ends being connected to each other by a wire 21 forming a three-sided frame lying in a second plane which is parallel to the first plane.

[0041] Referring to Figures 5, 7, 9 and 10, each support piece 14, 15 comprises a first rectilinear wall 22 and a second rectilinear wall 23, said two walls 22, 23 being in continuity with each other and being perpendicular to each other. In this way, each support piece 14, 15 has an L-shape. The second rectilinear wall 23 comprises a clip 24 and the first rectilinear wall 22 ends with two separate sections 25, 26 each having the shape of an open cylinder, said two separate sections 25, 26 being coaxial.

[0042] Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7, the two support pieces 14, 15 are mounted on the support shelf 3, so that: -The second rectilinear wall 23 extends over an area of ​​the smooth surface 5 of the support shelf, the clip 24 of said second rectilinear wall 23 being inserted into an orifice of said smooth surface 5, -The first rectilinear wall 22 extends along the rectilinear edge 11 of the support shelf 3 having the two notches 12, 13 and joining the two main surfaces 5 of said support shelf 3, a cylindrical axis 27 of the support shelf 3 being inserted into the two separate sections 25, 26 of said first rectilinear wall 22, -the two coaxial spiral segments 17, 18 of the spring 16 are placed around the cylindrical axis 27 of the shelf, the wire 21 of the spring 16 forming the three-sided frame being secured to the first wall 22 of the support part 14, 15 and the two parallel wires 19, 20 of said spring 16 being secured to the support shelf 3.

[0043] The first rectilinear wall 22 of each support part 14, 15 comprises a complementary female fixing element 28 in the form of a profiled opening made in one of the faces of said first wall 22.

[0044] Referring to [Fig. 2], the support shelf 3 can occupy an inactive position for which it is stored stably along the rear surface 4 of the backrest 2 of the seat 1. In this inactive position, the two male fixing means 10 of the second lower wall 8 of the support base 6 are inserted into the complementary female fixing elements 28 of the first walls 22 of the two support parts 14, 15, which are fixed to the support shelf 3. In this way, the support shelf 3 remains perfectly stable in the inactive position along the rear surface 4 of the backrest 2 of the seat 1.

[0045] Referring to Figures 1, 7 and 8, the support shelf 3 can be detached from the support base 6 from its inactive position, to be fixed at another location on said support base 6 to occupy an active position. This active position corresponds to a position for which the support shelf 3 extends in a horizontal plane. To obtain this active position, it is sufficient to insert the male fixing means 10 of the third connecting wall 9 of the support base 6 into the complementary female fixing elements 28 of the first walls 22 of the two support parts 14, 15, which are fixed to the support shelf 3.

[0046] In this way, the inactive position and the active position of the support shelf 3 are obtained from the support base 6. Since during these manipulations to move from the active position to the inactive position or vice versa, there is no relative movement between the support shelf 3 and the two support parts 14, 15, the springs 16 which are inserted between said support shelf 3 and said two support parts 14, 15 are not stressed and therefore do not undergo any particular force.

[0047] In the event that the vehicle were to accidentally impact an external obstacle while the support tablet 3 is in the active position as illustrated in Figures 1, 7 and 8, said support tablet 3 would then impact the person who would be located just behind it. The following sequences would follow: - The clip 24 of the second rectilinear wall 23 of each support part 14, 15 disengages from the support shelf 3 in which it was inserted, -The support shelf 3 then pivots around its cylindrical axis 27 which is inserted into the two separate sections 25, 26 of the first rectilinear wall 22 of each support part 14, 15. As illustrated in the two figures 9 and 10, this pivoting takes place downwards, -Since the support shelf 3 moves away from the first wall 22 of each support part 14, 15 which is fixed to the support base 6, the wire 21 of the spring 16 forming the three-sided frame which is secured to said first wall 22, then moves away from the two parallel wires 20, 21 of said spring 16 which are secured to the support shelf 3. This separation, moving the spring 16 away from its relaxed position, causes the spring 16 to be stressed, which naturally attempts to return to this relaxed position. In attempting to return to its relaxed position, the spring 16 causes the support shelf 3 to rotate in the opposite direction around its cylindrical axis 27. In this way, after having pivoted downwards, the support shelf 3 pivots upwards around the same axis, under the action of the spring 16 which relaxes naturally. Said support tablet 3 can then be re-engaged in its active position.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising an independent and detachable support shelf (3), a storage location for said support shelf (3), at least one seat (1) having a backrest (2) with a rear surface (4) located opposite at least one second seat placed behind said seat (1), and fixing elements allowing said shelf (3) to be fixed to said rear surface (4), said shelf (3) being able to move from an inactive position for which it is stored in the storage location to an active position for which it is fixed to the rear surface (4) of the backrest (2) of the seat (1) by extending in a horizontal plane, characterized in that the fixing elements comprise two support parts (14,15) at right angles each comprising a first wall (22) which is secured to the rear surface (4) of the backrest (2) and a second wall (23) which is in continuity with said first wall (22) by extending perpendicularly thereto, said second wall (23) extending above the first wall (22), and in that the shelf (3) is pivotally mounted on the first wall (22) by means of a pre-stressed return element (16), being snapped into the second wall (23), so that during an accidental impact of the vehicle against an external obstacle, the support shelf (3) separates from the second wall (23) by pivoting downwards, the pre-stressed return element (16) tending to oppose this downward pivoting movement by pushing said support shelf (3) upwards.,

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the prestressed return element is a spring (16).

3. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the spring (16) comprises two coaxial spiral segments (17, 18) each having a first end and a second end, and in that the two first ends are extended by two parallel wires (19, 20) lying in a first plane and the two second ends being connected to each other by a wire (21) forming a three-sided frame lying in a second plane which is parallel to the first plane, the spring (16) being mounted between the support shelf (3) and the support part (14, 15) so that: - the two spiral segments (17, 18) are threaded around an axis of rotation (27) of the shelf (3), and - the support shelf (3) is secured to the two parallel wires (19, 20), and - the support piece (14, 15) is secured to the wire (21) forming the three-sided frame.

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two support parts (14, 15) are at the same altitude on the rear surface (4) of the backrest (2) of the seat (1) and are both aligned along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two support pieces (14, 15) at right angles are fixed to a support base (6) which is secured to the rear surface (4) of the seat (1), and in that said support base (6) is elongated and extends along a horizontal and transverse axis Y of the vehicle.

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the support base (6) has a vertical face (9) having two fixing means (10), and in that the first walls (22) of the two support parts (14, 15) each comprise a complementary fixing means (28) intended to cooperate with a fixing means (10) of the vertical face (9).

7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for fixing the vertical face (9) of the support base (6) are constituted by pins (10) and the complementary means for fixing the first walls of the support parts (14, 15) at right angles are constituted by profiled openings (28) into which said pins (10) are inserted.

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the support base (6) has a triangular cross-section and has a horizontal face (8) constituting the lowest part of the support base (6) and having two fixing means (10) which are identical to those of the vertical face (9), and in that in the inactive position the support shelf (3) is stored along the rear surface (4) of the backrest (2) of the seat (1) so that the complementary fixing means (28) of the first walls (22) of the support parts (14, 15) at right angles cooperate with the fixing means (10) of the horizontal face (8) of the support base (6).

9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the support shelf (3) is rectangular in shape and has a thickness of between 2mm and 3mm, and in that said shelf support (3) has a first smooth and flat face (5) and a second face which is parallel to said first face (5) and which has stiffening ribs.

10. Method of mounting a support shelf (3) to the rear surface (4) of a seat (1) to obtain a vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a step of fixing the support base (6) to the rear surface (4) of the backrest (2) of the seat (1), -a step of mounting the two support pieces (14, 15) at right angles to the shelf (3) so that said shelf (3) is pivotally secured to the first wall (22) of each support piece (14, 15) and so that said shelf (3) is snapped into the second wall (23) of each of said support pieces (14, 15), said mounting step being carried out by means of a spring (16) inserted between each support piece (14, 15) and the support shelf (3), - a step of cooperation between the complementary fixing means (28) of the first walls (22) of the two support parts (14, 15) and the fixing means (10) of the vertical face (9) or the horizontal face (8) of the support base (6) in order to allow the support shelf (3) to be in the active position or in the inactive position.

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