seat with adjustable comfort piece

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat (1) comprising a seat cushion (2). According to the invention, a front area (3) of the seat cushion (2) includes a comfort element (4) mounted for translational movement within said seat cushion (2) along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle. This comfort element (4) is also mounted for rotational movement within said seat cushion (2) so as to be able to rise above the seat cushion (2). The position of the comfort element (4) within the seat cushion (2) is adjustable both for translation and rotation to ensure that the underside of the legs of an individual seated on the seat (1) remains in contact with said element (4) at all times, regardless of the individual's body shape. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: seat with an adjustable comfort part

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat provided with an adjustable comfort part.

[0002] In order to simplify the understanding of the invention, a seat according to the invention is described assuming that it is mounted in a vehicle, in a conventional forward-facing position. Thus, the description is carried out by referring to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ linked to the vehicle and in which X is a front-rear longitudinal axis of the vehicle facing backwards, Y is a transverse axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and Z is a vertical axis directed upwards.

[0003] More precisely, this comfort part is inserted into the seat and is mounted to move relative to said seat.

[0004] Such a seat preferably, but not exclusively, constitutes a vehicle seat, on which people of very different body shapes are intended to sit. Indeed, this type of seat is designed to accommodate a small, thin person or a large, corpulent person, as well as a person who may have a body shape located between these two extremes. However, it often happens that this seat is not ideally sized to accommodate large people, because although said people can sit on it without any particular difficulty, there often remain: - a space between the legs of these persons and a front edge of the seat, - a space between the thighs of these persons and an upper surface of said seat located in a front area thereof.

[0005] When at least one of the two preceding spaces appears markedly, the people who are seated on the seat may feel a certain lack of comfort because their legs are not held tightly on the seat.

[0006] A seat according to the invention has an adjustable seat allowing an individual to sit on said seat with the same comfort, whatever their morphology.

[0007] The subject of the invention is a vehicle seat comprising a seat.

[0008] According to the invention, a front zone of the seat comprises a comfort part mounted so as to be able to move in translation in said seat along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, said comfort part being mounted so as to be able to rotate in said seat so as to be able to be raised relative to the seat, the position of the comfort part in the seat being adjustable both in translation and in rotation to allow an individual who would be seated on the seat to have the underside of his legs always in contact with said part, whatever the morphology of the individual. The comfort part is a part which has been added to the seat and which has been mounted so as to be able to move thereon in order to improve the seating comfort of an individual who would be sitting on said seat. Indeed, an individual feels a certain seating comfort when he is in close contact with the seat and the back of the seat. However, for example, for people with long legs, a space may be created between the underside of his thighs and an upper surface of the seat, and / or a space between a front edge of the seat and his legs. These different spaces can create a bad "feeling" for a person sitting on the seat, this person being able to have the feeling that he is not well supported by the seat and in particular by his seat. The comfort piece makes it possible to increase the contact zones between a person sitting on the seat and the seat of said seat. The fact that the comfort piece can move in translation and rotation multiplies the deployment configurations of this comfort piece which can then adapt to people with very different morphologies.The comfort part is a part which extends in a central zone of the seat considered along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle and whose width which is its dimension considered along said transverse axis Y is between 30% and 80% of the total width of said seat. The movement of this comfort part can be ensured, either manually by means of a control member which can for example be a wheel, or automatically by means of at least one motor controlling at least one of the two movements in rotation and in translation. Advantageously, the comfort part is rigid and non-deformable.

[0009] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the translational movement of the comfort part takes place along a horizontal plane and allows said comfort part to move from a retracted position in which it is entirely included in the seat to a fully deployed position in which it projects in front of a front edge of the seat with a maximum amplitude, the comfort part being able to occupy a multiplicity of intermediate positions between said retracted position and said fully deployed position. The fully deployed position is marked by a stop located in the seat, said stop stopping the forward travel of the comfort part. Advantageously, the intermediate positions are discrete. Preferably, each intermediate position is marked by a notch, locking said comfort part in the corresponding intermediate position.

[0010] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the comfort part is secured to at least one cylindrical guide mounted free to rotate about a horizontal and transverse axis Y of the vehicle, the seat comprising at least one rectilinear track extending along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, the translational movement of the comfort part in the seat being achieved by means of a rotational movement of said cylindrical guide along said track, causing a movement of the same amplitude and in the same direction of the comfort part. The rectilinear track can for example be represented by a groove or a rail, and the cylindrical guide can be represented by a wheel that will move along the track by rotating around its axis of rotation. Since the comfort part is attached to this cylindrical guide, it moves at the same time as the cylindrical guide, with the same amplitude and in the same direction.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the cylindrical guide is a toothed wheel and the track comprises teeth, the translational movement of the comfort part in the seat being carried out by means of a mesh between the toothed wheel and the toothed track. An interaction between the cylindrical guide and the track allows good control of the movement of said cylindrical guide on the track, in particular eliminating the possibility of the cylindrical guide slipping on said track.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the comfort part comprises two cylindrical guides and the seat comprises two parallel tracks, said two cylindrical guides being placed in two end zones of the comfort part aligned along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, the two tracks being positioned in two end zones of the seat considered along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. In this way, the contact zones between the comfort part and the seat via the cylindrical guides will be better distributed. These zones will improve the conditions of movement of the comfort part along the seat by preventing the creation of extended zones on the comfort part which would not be in contact with the seat.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the comfort part comprises at least one axis of rotation extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle and located behind the cylindrical guide, the comfort part comprising at least one wall extending in a vertical and longitudinal plane XZ of the vehicle and having a vertical slot in an arc of a circle, in which the cylindrical guide is inserted, the rotational movement of the comfort part taking place around the axis of rotation by moving the slot relatively around the cylindrical guide. With such a configuration, the comfort part will pivot at a rear part thereof, around a rear axis of the comfort part, the slot in which the cylindrical guide is inserted guiding the rotational movement of the comfort part.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the cylindrical guide is a toothed wheel, the slot comprising teeth, the rotational movement of the comfort part in the seat being effected by means of a mesh between the toothed wheel and the toothed slot. An interaction between the cylindrical guide and the slot allows good control of the movement of the support part in rotation, in particular eliminating the risks of the cylindrical guide slipping in said slot.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the seat comprises a control handle allowing the cylindrical guide to be moved along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, to make it adopt at least three positions: - a first position for which the cylindrical guide cooperates only with the track, - a second position for which the cylindrical guide cooperates only with the slot in the wall of the comfort room, - a third position for which the cylindrical guide cooperates with both the track and the slot.

[0016] This control handle will thus select the movement that a user wishes to give to the comfort part according to his needs, said movement being to be chosen from: -a single rotation to raise or lower the comfort room, - a single translation to move the comfort part forward or backward in relation to the seat, -a combination of rotation and translation to move the comfort piece forward while raising it.

[0017] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the comfort piece has a flat upper wall, and when the comfort piece is raised relative to the seat, the upper wall extends the seat by being inclined relative to an upper surface of said seat. The comfort piece must not have any roughness or edges which would be unpleasant contact for the legs of an individual sitting on the seat. To remedy this problem of unpleasant contact, the comfort piece has a flat upper wall, which will come into contact with the legs of an occupant, and which is rather soft to the touch.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the seat and the comfort part are surrounded by the same padding envelope into which a product having a certain flexibility has been inserted. In this way, the comfort part will give the impression of being an integral part of the seat without being visible, and therefore without degrading the visual rendering of the seat. The seat of the seat will give the impression of being modular in itself without suspecting for a moment that this modularity is due to an added comfort part.

[0019] A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of having at least one seat having a universal character by presenting a high seating comfort, whatever the morphology of a person who would be seated on said seat. In addition, this universal character is due to a judicious mounting of an added comfort part, configured to move both in translation and in rotation, thus offering a wide range of possible configurations for this comfort part. The implementation of a single comfort part thus makes it possible to avoid the presence of two separate parts, one mounted in rotation and the other in translation which would be a source of additional cost.

[0020] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0021] The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the appended figures:

[0022] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] from the side of a seat of a chair according to the invention, showing the part comfort in a forward-deployed and raised position,

[0023] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is the view of [Fig.l] showing the comfort room in three different positions,

[0024] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic top view showing the comfort room on the seat of a seat according to the invention,

[0025] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic view of a handle positioning the cy guide lindrique in a position allowing translational movement of the comfort part along the seat,

[0026] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a schematic view of a handle positioning the cy guide lindrique in a position allowing a rotational movement of the comfort part on the seat,

[0027] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a schematic view of a handle positioning the cy guide lindrique in a position allowing both a rotational movement and a rotational movement of the comfort piece on the seat,

[0028] Conventionally, vehicle seat bases generally have standard dimensions, which may not be suitable for tall and / or heavily built people. Indeed, it may happen that a space is created between the underside of the thighs of a person sitting on said seat and an upper surface of said seat and / or that another space is created between the legs of this person and a front edge 5 of this seat 2 extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. These spaces will give this person the impression that they are not comfortably installed on the seat 1 because they will not feel tightly held thereon.

[0029] In order to prevent the occurrence of such spaces, referring to Figures 1 and 2, a vehicle seat 1 according to the invention comprises a seat 2, a front zone 3 of which considered along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle has a movable comfort part 4.

[0030] Referring to [Fig. 2], this mobile comfort part 4 has the particularity of being mobile both in translation along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle and in rotation to be able to raise itself relative to an upper surface 6 of the seat 2. In this way, the comfort part 4 can, by translation, occupy a stowed position for which it is completely included in the seat 2, and a position fully deployed for which it has deployed forward in a horizontal plane to protrude with maximum amplitude in front of the front edge 5 of said seat 2. It can also occupy a multiplicity of intermediate positions between these two positions. Preferably, all the positions that the comfort part 4 can occupy in translation are discrete, and are each marked by a notch intended to prevent said comfort part 4 from moving when it occupies one of these positions.

[0031] Similarly, the comfort part 4 can, by rotation, occupy a multiplicity of more or less raised positions. Preferably, all the positions that the comfort part 4 can occupy in rotation are discrete, and are each marked by a notch intended to prevent said comfort part 4 from moving when it occupies one of these positions.

[0032] The translational movement of the comfort part 4 can either be independent of its rotational movement or be dependent on it.

[0033] To achieve all the functionalities described above, the comfort part 4 has an upper main wall 7 of substantially rectangular shape, the two long sides of which extend along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle and the short sides of which extend along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle. The comfort part 4 also has a front edge 8 folded downwards, and forming an angle of 90° relative to the upper main wall 7, said folded edge 8 extending over the entire length of the comfort part 4. The length of the comfort part 4 is between 30% and 80% of the total length of the seat 2, the length constituting the dimension of the comfort part 4 or of the seat 2 considered along a transverse axis of the vehicle.

[0034] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the comfort part 4 comprises at least one rear articulation arm 9, originating on a rear end of the upper main wall 7 and extending downwardly towards the rear of said upper main surface 7. A free lower end of this rear articulation arm 9 comprises an axis of rotation 14, in the form of a ball joint or a cylinder whose axis of revolution extends along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle.

[0035] Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the comfort part 4 has a wall 10 extending in a vertical and longitudinal plane XZ of the vehicle and placed in front of the rear articulation arm 9. This wall 10 is mounted fixedly on the comfort part 4, and therefore has no degree of freedom relative to this comfort part 4. This wall 10 comprises a through slot 11 having an arc-shaped shape. When the upper main wall 7 of the comfort part 4 extends in a horizontal plane XY, the arc-shaped slot 11 extends vertically. Advantageously, the slot 11 has a series of teeth over at least part of its length.

[0036] Referring to Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, the seat base 2 of the seat comprises at least one rectilinear track 12 extending horizontally along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, said track 12 being able for example to be materialized by a groove or a rail. This track 12 preferably comprises, over at least part of its length, a series of teeth. The comfort part 4 is secured to a cylindrical guide 13, the axis of revolution of which extends along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. Advantageously, this cylindrical guide 13 is a toothed wheel which is mounted to rotate freely around its axis of revolution, and which is placed in front of the axis of rotation 14 terminating the articulation arm 9 of the comfort part 4.This cylindrical guide 13 is intended to move along the track 12 and / or in the through slot 11 in an arc of a circle of the vertical wall 10 of the comfort part 4, to cause a translational and / or rotational movement of the comfort part.

[0037] Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, a handle 15 comprising a gripping element 16 and a rectilinear rod 17 extending said gripping element 16, makes it possible to position the cylindrical guide 13 in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle. The cylindrical guide 13 is mounted on the rod 17 so that said rod 17 is aligned with the axis of revolution of said cylindrical guide 13. The cylindrical guide 13 is mounted on the rod 17 by means of two springs 19, 20 placed on either side of said cylindrical guide 13, each of said two springs 19, 20 bearing both against a wall of this cylindrical guide 13 and against an end wall 24, 25 fixed to the rod 17. Rotating the handle 15 around the rod 17 causes the cylindrical guide 13 to rotate simultaneously.In addition, the handle 15 can also be moved in translation along the rod 17, to allow the cylindrical guide 13 to be moved simultaneously in the same direction and with the same amplitude. Thanks to this handle 15, the cylindrical guide 13 can thus occupy three main positions: . - a first position for which the cylindrical guide 13 cooperates only with the track 12 as illustrated in [Fig.4]. For this first position, a rotation of the handle 15 causes a simultaneous rotation of the cylindrical guide 13 which moves along the rectilinear track 12, causing the comfort part 4 to translate, which is secured to said cylindrical guide 13. For this first position, the handle only manages the translational movement of the comfort part 4. -a second position deduced from the first position by means of a translation of the handle along the rod 17 as illustrated in [Fig.5]. For this second position, the cylindrical guide 13 is also translated along its axis of revolution and comes completely out of the track 12, to end up entirely in the slot 11. A rotation of the handle 15 causes a simultaneous rotation of the cylindrical guide 13 which moves along the slot 11, causing a rotating the comfort part 4 around the rotation axis 14 terminating the articulation arm. In this way, once the comfort part 4 has reached the desired translational position, it can then be raised or lowered by rotation thanks to the cylindrical guide 13 circulating in the slot 11 - a third position as illustrated in [Fig.6], and which is deduced from the first position or the second position by means of a translation of the handle along the rod 17. For this third position, a rotation of the handle 15 causes a simultaneous rotation of the cylindrical guide 13, which moves both along the track 12 and in the slot 11. The comfort part moves both in translation and in rotation.

[0038] Referring to [Fig. 3], the seat 2 comprises two parallel tracks 12 and two vertical walls 10 each having a vertical slot 11. The comfort part 4 comprises two articulation arms 9 placed behind said vertical walls 10, and is secured to two cylindrical guides 13 connected to each other by a transmission bar 18. The handle 15 is secured to one of the two cylindrical guides 13, so that it controls the translation of the two cylindrical guides 13 via the transmission bar 18, as well as their simultaneous rotation via said bar 18. The two parallel tracks 12 are spaced apart so that they tangent the two small sides of the comfort part 4, with a margin of a few centimeters.

[0039] It should be noted that the comfort part 4 is mounted on the seat 2 by means of a pre-stressed return element 21 which naturally tends to push said comfort part 4 upwards under the legs of a person sitting on said seat 1.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle seat (1) comprising a seat (2), characterized in that a front zone (3) of the seat (2) comprises a comfort part (4) mounted so as to be able to move in translation in said seat (2) along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, and in that said comfort part (4) is mounted so as to be able to move in rotation in said seat (2) so as to be able to rise relative to the seat (2), the position of the comfort part (4) in the seat (2) being adjustable both in translation and in rotation to allow an individual who would be seated on the seat (1) to have the underside of his legs always in contact with said part (4), whatever the morphology of the individual.

2. Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the translational movement of the comfort part (4) takes place along a horizontal plane and allows said comfort part (4) to move from a retracted position for which it is entirely included in the seat (2) to a completely deployed position for which it projects in front of a front edge (5) of the seat (2) with a maximum amplitude, and in that the comfort part (4) can occupy a multiplicity of intermediate positions between said retracted position and said completely deployed position.

3. Vehicle seat according to claim 2, characterized in that the comfort part (4) is secured to at least one cylindrical guide (13) mounted free to rotate about a horizontal and transverse axis Y of the vehicle, and in that the seat (2) comprises at least one rectilinear track (12) extending along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, the translational movement of the comfort part (4) in the seat (2) being achieved by means of a rotational movement of said cylindrical guide (13) along said track (12), causing a movement of the same amplitude and in the same direction of the comfort part (4).

4. Vehicle seat according to claim 3, characterized in that the cylindrical guide (13) is a toothed wheel and in that the track (12) comprises teeth, the translational movement of the comfort part (4) in the seat (2) being effected by means of a mesh between the toothed wheel (13) and the toothed track (12).

5. Vehicle seat according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the comfort part (4) comprises two cylindrical guides (13) and the seat (2) comprises two parallel tracks (12), and in that said two cylindrical guides (13) are placed in two end zones of the comfort part (4) aligned along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, the two tracks (12) being positioned in two end zones of the seat (2) considered along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle.

6. Vehicle seat according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the comfort part (4) comprises at least one axis of rotation (14) extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle and located behind the cylindrical guide (13), and in that the comfort part (4) comprises at least one wall (10) extending in a vertical and longitudinal plane XZ of the vehicle and having a vertical slot (11) in an arc of a circle, in which the cylindrical guide (13) is inserted, the rotational movement of the comfort part (4) taking place around the axis of rotation (14) by moving the slot (11) around the cylindrical guide (13).

7. Vehicle seat according to claim 6, characterized in that the cylindrical guide (13) is a toothed wheel and in that the slot (11) has teeth, the rotational movement of the comfort part (4) in the seat (2) being effected by means of a mesh between the toothed wheel (13) and the toothed slot (11).

8. Vehicle seat according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a control handle (15) allowing the cylindrical guide (13) to be moved along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, to make it adopt at least three positions: - a first position for which the cylindrical guide (13) cooperates only with the track (12), - a second position for which the cylindrical guide (13) cooperates only with the slot (11) of the wall (10) of the comfort part (4), - a third position for which the cylindrical guide (13) cooperates both with the track (12) and with the slot (11).

9. Vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the comfort part (4) has a flat upper wall (7), and in that when the comfort part (4) is raised relative to the seat (2), the upper wall (7) extends the seat (2) while being inclined relative to an upper surface (6) of said seat (2).

10. Vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the seat (2) and the comfort part (4) are surrounded by the same filling envelope into which a product with a certain flexibility has been inserted.

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