vehicle equipped with a row of seats with a backrest

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle having a row (1, 2, 3) of seats comprising a seat (4, 5) and a backrest (6, 7). According to the invention, the vehicle comprises: - a first upper backrest rotation device (6, 7) including at least one first axis (10, 11) of rotation located in a lower area of ​​said backrest (6, 7), and - a second lower backrest rotation device (6, 7) including at least two connecting rods (20) mounted for rotation about at least one second axis (21, 22) of rotation which is parallel to said first axis (10, 11) of rotation, rotation of the connecting rods (20) about the second axis (21, 22) causing an advance or recoil of the first axis (10, 11) which is integral with the backrest (6, 7) and therefore an advance of the lower area of ​​the backrest, the angle of the backrest being then adjustable about the first axis by unlocking an upper part of the backrest. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: vehicle with a row of seats having a backrest

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having a row of seats having a movable backrest.

[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] Currently, vehicle seats are not specifically designed to ensure seating comfort for an individual, regardless of their body shape. Indeed, with the same seat, it is difficult to guarantee the same comfort for a person who is thin and small, and for a tall person who is somewhat overweight. The tall person risks having their knees butting against the back of a seat placed just in front of them, and / or having their head resting against a ceiling of the vehicle at a certain angle with the rest of their body. This comfort problem is especially encountered on the seats in a rear row, since for a front row of seats generally comprising a driver's seat and a passenger seat, there is often a large amount of clearance reserved for the legs of the people who would be sitting on the seats in said front row.

[0004] In order to satisfy an individual in terms of seating comfort, whatever their weight and size, a first solution would simply consist of lengthening the vehicle to create more space inside it. However, such a solution is not realistic, particularly due to the very high manufacturing costs that this could generate and the large size of the vehicle. Another solution generally adopted consists of creating a sliding seat with seats that can be independent. However, this other solution has at least three major drawbacks: - a significant additional cost compared to a conventional solution not involving a sliding seat, - an obligation to adapt the rear floor of the vehicle, -a loss in compactness of the seat because it is necessary to integrate the slides between 20 and 30mm.

[0005] These three disadvantages are problematic for compact vehicles and with a further demand for lowering the roof for the aerodynamics of the cars.

[0006] A vehicle according to the invention comprises a row of seats allowing people with varying builds to be able to sit on one of said seats with a high level of comfort, while overcoming the drawbacks encountered in current state-of-the-art vehicles. Such a row of seats is not a front row of seats, but may indifferently constitute a row of seats of row two or row three, behind which a rear trunk may be placed which would be directly delimited by said row of seats.

[0007] The invention relates to a vehicle having a row of seats comprising a seat and a backrest.

[0008] According to the invention, the vehicle comprises: - a first upper device for rotating the backrest comprising at least a first rotation axis placed in a lower zone of said backrest, and extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, said first device making it possible to pivot the backrest around said first rotation axis And - a second lower device for rotating the backrest comprising at least two connecting rods mounted for rotation around at least one second axis of rotation which is parallel to said first axis of rotation and is placed under it, each of said connecting rods also being mounted for rotation around said first axis, a rotation of the connecting rods around the second axis causing a forward or backward movement of the first axis which is integral with the backrest and therefore a forward movement of the lower area of ​​the backrest, the angle of the backrest then being adjustable around the first axis by means of unlocking an upper part of the backrest.

[0009] A row of seats of a vehicle according to the invention may, for example, comprise three individual seats or one individual seat and a two-seater bench seat. It may also consist of a three-seater bench seat in one piece. Schematically, the backrest of a row of seats or of a part thereof of a vehicle according to the invention may occupy at least two distinct main positions: - a position for which the first axis is in a retracted position, - a position for which the first axis is in an advanced position,

[0010] These two positions are dictated by the position of the connecting rods of the second lower rotation device. In this way, if they are in a substantially vertical position, the first axis will be in a rearward position, and if they have pivoted forwards around the second axis, they will drive said first axis which will end up in a forward position. Once the second lower rotation device has been fixed in one of the two previous positions, the angle of the backrest around the first axis can be adjusted by unlocking an upper zone of said backrest so that it can be rotated around said first axis. To summarize, a backrest of a bench seat of a vehicle according to the invention can occupy a forward position or a backward position depending on the location of the first axis of rotation, and for each of these positions the inclination of the backrest around said first axis of rotation can be adjusted to adapt to the morphology of an individual who would be seated on the row of seats. It should be noted that the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are horizontal and extend in a transverse direction Y of the vehicle, the second axis being placed under the first axis. The first rotation device allows the backrest to pivot around the first axis without any limit on the angular amplitude. In other words, said first rotation device does not implement any specific means for limiting the rotation of the backrest around the first axis.The backrest of at least one of the seats in the row may be moved forward or backward with a more or less pronounced inclination to adapt to the morphology of an individual sitting on said seat. This individual will benefit from improved comfort in the vehicle, without the base of his seat having to be translated within said vehicle, which would require a significant clearance space. In addition, if the row of seats were located just in front of a rear trunk of the vehicle, moving the backrest of at least one of said seats forward makes it possible to increase the available volume of said rear trunk.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each connecting rod is elongated and has a lower end through which the second axis of rotation passes and an upper end through which the first axis of rotation passes, said two ends being considered relative to a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod. In other words, the lower end of each of said connecting rods remains in the low position just above the seat, and the upper end thereof will tend to lower when said connecting rods pivot forwards around the second axis of rotation passing through the lower end thereof.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the row of seats comprises a two-seater bench seat and an individual seat placed next to said two-seater bench seat, the first upper rotation device comprising a first rotation axis fixed to the back of the individual seat and a first rotation axis fixed to the back of the two-seater bench seat, the second lower rotation device comprising a second rotation axis dedicated to the individual seat and a second rotation axis dedicated to the two-seater bench seat, said second rotation device comprising four connecting rods, two of which are associated with the individual seat and two other connecting rods are associated with the two-seater bench seat.In this way, the backrests of the individual seat and the two-seater bench are adjustable independently of each other according to the morphology of the person sitting on the individual seat and the people sitting on the two-seater bench. In other words, a positional shift can be observed between the backrest of the . individual seat and the back of the two-seater bench seat, if for example the connecting rods of the two second lower rotating devices of said individual seat and said two-seater bench seat are in different positions. It should be noted that the first axis of rotation of the back of the individual seat and the first axis of rotation of the two-seater bench seat are in perfect continuity with each other and separated from each other. The same applies to the second axis of rotation of the individual seat and the second axis of rotation of the two-seater bench seat which are in perfect continuity with each other and separated from each other along the same transverse axis Y of the vehicle.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each connecting rod is mounted on the seat so that it can only occupy two extreme positions around the second axis of rotation, a forward position and a rearward position, each of said two positions being deduced from one another by means of a rotation around said second axis of rotation, with a predefined angular amplitude. In this way, the manipulation of the backrest of the row of seats of a vehicle according to the invention is simplified, by only being able to place the connecting rods in two distinct positions: forward or rearward.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the second lower device for rotating the backrest is locked in a position by means of an interaction between several magnets, said second device being able to be unlocked by means of a strap emerging from a junction zone between the backrest and the seat, a tensile force exerted on said strap causing a misalignment of said magnets which no longer cooperate together, thus releasing said second lower rotation device in rotation. It is important to specify that the connecting rods of a second device for rotating a row of seats of a vehicle according to the invention are locked in one of the two positions, forward or backward. It is therefore necessary to release these connecting rods in rotation if an individual wishes to change their position.The principle of an interaction between magnets to lock the position of a backrest relative to the seat is particularly suitable for a vehicle according to the invention, but does not constitute a limiting example. Other types of interactions can be envisaged.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the seat has a raised rear edge whose height is between the height of the first axis of rotation and the height of the second axis of rotation, the backrest being placed above said raised edge while being in continuity with it. The presence of this raised edge makes it possible to create a clearance space to allow the first axis and therefore the backrest to pivot forward when the connecting rods pivot forward.

[0016] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the first upper device of rotation comprises a pallet for unlocking an upper area of ​​the backrest, a movement of the unlocking pallet causing an unlocking of said upper area of ​​the backrest which can then be rotated around the first axis of rotation. In this way, when the connecting rods of the second lower rotation device have been fixed in one of the two forward or backward positions, a pushing force exerted on the pallet makes it possible to unlock an upper area of ​​the backrest so that an individual can adjust its inclination.

[0017] Another subject of the invention is a method for adjusting the position of a backrest of a row of seats of a vehicle according to the invention.

[0018] According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: - a step of unlocking the second lower rotation device, - a step of rotating the connecting rods to move the first axis forward or backward, causing rotation of the backrest which is mounted articulated on said first axis, - a step of readjusting the angle of the backrest by means of unlocking an upper zone of the backrest to allow said backrest to pivot around the first axis.

[0019] Schematically, according to such a method, the second rotation device is unlocked to place the connecting rods in a given position, driving the backrest with them, then the backrest is then unlocked at an upper zone thereof to adjust the inclination of said backrest around the first axis of rotation.

[0020] A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of having a row of seats whose backrest(s) can be moved forward or backward for the comfort of passengers with different body shapes, thanks to the implementation of two pivoting mechanisms of simple and judicious design. It also has the advantage of having this additional functionality without being more bulky and without generating significant additional costs.

[0021] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle and a method according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0022] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of a row of seats in a vehicle according to the invention,

[0023] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the second lower placing device rotation of a vehicle according to the invention, showing the connecting rods in a retracted position,

[0024] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a side view of a row of seats of a vehicle according to the invention, simultaneously showing the backrest in a forward position and in a backward position,

[0025] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is the view of the row of seats of [Fig.3], showing in transparency the position of the connecting rods for each of the backrest positions,

[0026] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of two connecting rods of a second device for rotating a vehicle according to the invention, one of the two connecting rods being associated with an individual seat and the other connecting rod being associated with a two-seater bench seat.

[0027] Referring to [Fig.l], a vehicle according to the invention comprises a rear row of seats 1 comprising an individual seat 2 and a two-seater bench seat 3 placed next to said individual seat while being aligned along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. The individual seat 2 and the bench seat 3 respectively comprise a seat 4, 5 and a backrest 6, 7, the positions of said backrests 6, 7 being adjustable independently of each other. In other words, the position of one backrest 6, 7 has no influence on the position of the other backrest 6, 7. The seats 4, 5 of the individual seat 2 and of the two-seater bench seat 3 each have a raised rear edge 8, 9 extending in a transverse and substantially vertical plane YZ of the vehicle, so that the backrests 6, 7 of said individual seat 2 and of said bench seat 3 are located above these raised rear edges 8, 9 and in continuity with them.

[0028] The term "rear row of seats" means that the vehicle comprises at least one row of seats located in front of this rear row 1 of seats.

[0029] In order for this rear row of seats 1 to allow people with very different body shapes to sit with the same comfort, the backrest 6 of the individual seat 2 and the backrest 7 of the two-seater bench 3 can be moved forward or backward relative to their respective seats 4, 5, with a different inclination.

[0030] To achieve this result, a vehicle according to the invention comprises a first upper device for rotating the backrest 6, 7 having at least one first rotation axis 10, 11 placed in a lower zone of said backrest 6, 7 and at least one unlocking plate 50, 51 of an upper zone of the backrest 6, 7. More precisely, the backrest 6 of the individual seat 2 and the backrest 7 of the two-seater bench seat 3 each comprise a first rotation axis 10, 11, said two first rotation axes 10, 11 being separated and aligned along the same transverse axis Y of the vehicle. The backrest 6 of the individual seat 2 and the backrest 7 of the two-seater bench seat 3 are each provided with an unlocking plate 50, 51, said unlocking plates 50, 51 being able to be manipulated independently of one another.

[0031] Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 5, a vehicle according to the invention also comprises a second lower device for rotating the backrest 6, 7 comprising four connecting rods 20 mounted in rotation around at least one second axis 21, 22 of rotation which is parallel to said first axis 10, 11 of rotation while being placed under the latter, each of said connecting rods 20 also being mounted in rotation around said first axis 10, 11. Among the four connecting rods 20 which are aligned along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, two connecting rods 20 frame the individual seat 2 and two other connecting rods 20 frame the two-seater bench 3. The second axis 21, 22 of rotation is placed at an altitude which is between that of the seat 4, 5 and that of an upper wall of the raised rear edge 8, 9 of said seats 4, 5. This second axis of rotation 21, 22 is placed in line with the first axis of rotation 10, 11, just in front of the raised rear edges 8, 9 of the seats 4, 5. Each connecting rod 20 is a flat and elongated part, having a small thickness. Each connecting rod 20 has two rounded ends 40, 41 each having a central circular opening, said rounded ends 40, 41 being considered along a longitudinal axis of said connecting rod 20.These two rounded ends are constituted by a first lower end 40 whose central circular opening is crossed by the second axis of rotation 21, 22, and by a second upper end 41 whose central circular opening is crossed by the first axis of rotation 21, 22. The two connecting rods 20 framing either the individual seat 2 or the two-seater bench 3 can thus be rotated simultaneously around the second axis of rotation 21, 22 to move from a first retracted position to a second advanced position, each of said connecting rods 20 then simultaneously moving the first axis of rotation 10, 11 from a retracted position to an advanced position.When the connecting rod 20 is placed in the retracted position, the first axis of rotation 10, 11 is in the retracted position, then, when the connecting rod 20 is rotated forward to move into the advanced position, it then causes a forward movement of the first axis of rotation 10, 11.

[0032] The second rotation device is unlocked by means of a strap fixed to a cam and stored in a junction zone between the seat 4, 5 and the backrest 6, 7. It is then sufficient to exert a tensile force on said strap in order to cause a rotation of the cam, which causes a misalignment of magnets which cooperated together to ensure the locking of the second rotation device. The misalignment of the magnets interrupts any cooperation between them and then releases the connecting rods 20 in rotation.

[0033] Referring to [Fig. 5], a thin cylindrical control part 40 is fixed to the second axis of rotation 21, 22. This control part 40 has a peripheral finger 30 and is inserted into a cylindrical housing of a fixed part at right angles. This cylindrical housing has a peripheral slot 41 in the shape of an arc of a circle and of a finite length. When the control part 40 is placed in the peripheral housing, the finger 30 emerges from said slot 4L. When the connecting rods 20 are in the advanced or retracted position, the finger 30 is in abutment against an end edge of the slot 4L. When the connecting rods 20 are rotated for reach the other advanced or retracted position, the control part 40 which is fixed to the second axis of rotation 21, 22 is also rotated in the cylindrical housing of the right-angled part, until the peripheral finger 30 comes into abutment against the other edge of the slot 41. The travel of the finger 30 in the slot 41 materializes the maximum amplitude of rotation of the connecting rods 20 to pass from one position to the other.

[0034] A method for adjusting the position of a backrest 6, 7 of a row 1, 2, 3 of seats of a vehicle according to the invention, comprises the following steps: - a step of unlocking the second lower rotation device by exerting a tensile force on the strap 43 which will then release the connecting rods 20 into rotation, - a step of rotating the connecting rods 20 to move the first axis 10, 11 forward or backward, causing the backrest 6, 7 which is mounted articulated on said first axis 10, 11 to rotate, - a step of readjusting the angle of the backrest 6, 7 by means of a manipulation of the unlocking paddle 50, 51 which will release in movement an upper zone of the backrest 6, 7 to allow said backrest 6, 7 to pivot around the first axis 10, 11 and thus adjust its inclination.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle having a row (1, 2, 3) of seats comprising a seat (4, 5) and a backrest (6, 7), characterized in that it comprises: - a first upper device for rotating the backrest (6, 7) comprising at least a first axis (10, 11) of rotation placed in a lower zone of said backrest (6, 7) and extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, said first device making it possible to pivot the backrest (6, 7) around said first axis of rotation (10, 11) and - a second lower device for rotating the backrest (6, 7) comprising at least two connecting rods (20) mounted for rotation around at least a second axis (21, 22) of rotation which is parallel to said first axis (10, 11) of rotation while being placed under it, each of said connecting rods (20) also being mounted for rotation around said first axis (10, 11), and in that a rotation of the connecting rods (20) around the second axis (21,22) causes the first axis (10, 11) which is integral with the backrest (6, 7) to move forward or backward and therefore the lower area of ​​the backrest to move forward, the angle of the backrest then being adjustable around the first axis by means of unlocking an upper part of the backrest.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that each connecting rod (20) is elongated and has a lower end through which the second axis (21, 22) of rotation passes and an upper end through which the first axis (10, 11) of rotation passes, said two ends being considered relative to a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod (20).

3. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the row of seats (1, 2, 3) comprises a two-seater bench seat (3) and an individual seat (2) placed next to said two-seater bench seat (3), the first upper rotation device comprising a first rotation axis (10) fixed to the backrest (6) of the individual seat (2) and a first rotation axis (11) fixed to the backrest (7) of the two-seater bench seat (3), and in that the second lower rotation device comprises a second rotation axis (21) dedicated to the individual seat (2) and a second rotation axis (22) dedicated to the two-seater bench seat (3), said second rotation device comprising four connecting rods (20), two of which connecting rods (20) are associated with the individual seat (2) and two other connecting rods (20) are associated with the two-seater bench (3).

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each connecting rod (20) is mounted on the seat so that it can only occupy two extreme positions around the second axis (21, 22) of rotation, a forward position and a backward position, and in that each of said two positions is deduced from one another by means of a rotation around said second axis (21, 22) of rotation, with a predefined angular amplitude.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second lower device for rotating the backrest (6, 7) is locked in a position by means of an interaction between several magnets, and in that it can be unlocked by means of a strap (43) emerging from a junction zone between the backrest (6, 7) and the seat (4, 5), a tensile force exerted on said strap (43) causing a misalignment of said magnets which no longer cooperate together, releasing said second lower rotation device in rotation.

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the seat has a raised rear edge (8, 9) whose height is between the height of the first axis (10, 11) of rotation and the height of the second axis (21, 22) of rotation, and in that the backrest (6, 7) is placed above said raised edge (8, 9) while being in continuity with it.

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first upper rotation device comprises an unlocking paddle (50, 51) for an upper zone of the backrest (6, 7), and in that a movement of the paddle (50, 51) causes an unlocking of said upper zone of the backrest (6, 7) which can then be rotated around the first axis (10, 11) of rotation.

8. Method for adjusting the position of a backrest (6, 7) of a row of seats (1, 2, 3) of a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a step of unlocking the second lower rotation device, - a step of rotating the connecting rods (20) around the second axis (21, 22) of rotation to move the first axis (10, 11) forward or backward, causing the backrest (6, 7) which is mounted articulated on said first axis (10, 11), - a step of readjusting the angle of the backrest (6, 7) by means of unlocking an upper zone of the backrest (6, 7) to allow said backrest (6, 7) to pivot around the first axis (10, 11).

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