Seat back including an element for attaching an object

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat back (1), having a frame (6) and a cover (3) covering said frame (6). According to the invention, at least one metal support piece (7) having an opening (14) is fixed to said frame (6), and a plastic buffer piece (15) having an opening (17) is placed in contact with the support piece (7) such that the two openings (14, 17) overlap. An elongated clip (19) having an enlarged hook head (22) is inserted into the two overlapping openings (14, 17) such that the enlarged hook head (22) abuts against the hook piece (15) and emerges from the cover (2) covering the metal support piece (7) to allow an object (24) to be attached thereto. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Seat back comprising an element for attaching an object

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat back comprising an element for attaching an object.

[0002] It is assumed that a seat according to the invention conventionally comprises a seat and a backrest.

[0003] For a better understanding of the invention, the terms “base” and “support” are equivalent because they designate the same element.

[0004] Car manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve passenger comfort when said vehicles are in motion, in particular to make the journey time pass more quickly and more pleasantly. The comfort of these passengers can come essentially from two sources: -An improvement in seating conditions linked to the seat structure and the backrest structure as well as the padding of these two structures, - The ability to easily and quickly access small objects such as, for example, a smartphone, an electronic tablet or a pocket intended to contain items designed to entertain said passengers, such as, for example, a book or game grids.

[0005] A vehicle backrest according to the invention focuses on the second source of comfort mentioned above, by allowing passengers of said vehicle to quickly and easily access objects supported by said seat.

[0006] The subject of the invention is a backrest of a vehicle seat, provided with a frame and a covering covering said frame.

[0007] According to the invention, at least one metal support piece having an opening is fixed to said frame, a plastic buffer piece having an opening being placed in contact with the support piece so that the two openings overlap, an elongated clip having a widened hooking head being inserted into the two superimposed openings so that the widened hooking head abuts against the buffer piece and emerges from the covering covering the metal support piece to allow an object to be fixed thereto. The widened hooking head of the clip constitutes the part of the clip by which the object will be fixed to the backrest. This hooking head emerges permanently from the covering of the backrest to allow the object to be fixed to the backrest at any time. When said object is fixed to the backrest, it will be permanently accessible by an occupant of the vehicle.The interaction between the object and the enlarged attachment head of the clip is such that a vehicle occupant will be able to . unhook the object without having to exert any particular effort and without using a specific tool. The metal support piece is profiled to allow the enlarged attachment head of the clip to emerge. The clip is elongated and preferably has a cylindrical body made up of several surface roughnesses, to allow its insertion by clipping into the opening of the buffer piece and into the opening of the metal support piece. The metal support piece can be fixed to the frame of the backrest by means of rivets or screws, or by welding. Once the backrest covering has been placed on the backrest, the metal support piece is camouflaged by said covering. As mentioned above, it is essential that the enlarged attachment head emerges from the covering, the buffer piece may or may not be covered by said covering. The backrest covering can for example consist of a foam cushion or a plastic shell.The object that can be attached to the enlarged attachment head of the clip can, for example, be a smartphone, an electronic tablet or a pocket in which it is practical to place a book or game grids. The buffer piece constitutes an interposition layer between the enlarged attachment head and the metal support plate. It will be of low thickness, preferably less than 5 mm, and even more advantageously, less than 3 mm.

[0008] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the buffer piece against which the enlarged attachment head abuts emerges from the covering. In this way, this buffer piece serves to make the enlarged attachment head emerge even further from the covering of the backrest.

[0009] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the covering is a plastic shell, the enlarged hooking head emerging from a rear face of the backrest. For this configuration, the hooked object will rather be for the use of people who will be seated on a rear row of seats, located behind the seat comprising the backrest according to the invention.

[0010] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the enlarged attachment head is rectangular in shape and comprises a peripheral groove extending over the entire perimeter of said attachment head, said peripheral groove being intended to cooperate with a base which has been previously fixed to the object. The enlarged attachment head will play the role of a female element through the presence of the peripheral groove, and the base which is secured to the object will play the role of a male element which will be inserted into said female element. Preferably, the base which is fixed to the object has a constant contour and has movable fixing means mounted by means of pre-stressed springs. Thus, depending on the size of the object to be fixed, it is sufficient to more or less manually separate the fixing means by fighting against the force of the pre-stressed springs, then to release these means of fixing around said object.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the buffer piece is rectangular in shape and has dimensions which are greater than those of the enlarged attachment head, said buffer piece being delimited by rounded edges and corners. Otherwise, the enlarged attachment head of the clip does not protrude from the buffer piece. With these rounded edges and rounded corners, the buffer piece will thus prevent the edges of the enlarged attachment head from being able to injure an occupant of the vehicle.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the buffer part comprises a main body that is flat and rectangular in shape in which the opening has been made, said buffer part comprising at least two elastically deformable tabs originating on the edges of said main body delimiting said opening, the fixing of said buffer part to the metal support part being carried out by means of an insertion of the tabs into the opening of the metal support part and an elastic deformation of said tabs in said opening. The buffer part is thus fixed by clipping into the opening of the metal support part. The tabs of this buffer part are pushed into the opening of the metal support part by elastically deforming, until said tabs return to their initial shape by relaxation once they have reached the required depth in the buffer part.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the metal support part is a part having the shape of a flat rectangular strip, said support part comprising a section having two parallel lateral edges and an end edge joining said two lateral edges and comprising the opening, said two lateral edges extending perpendicular to the flat rectangular strip and said end edge extending parallel to said rectangular strip. In other words, the metal support part has a bump through the presence of this section, which will allow the enlarged attachment head of the clip to stand out better from the backrest.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the buffer piece is in contact with the end edge, the clip extending parallel to the two parallel lateral edges.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the metal support piece is secured to the backrest frame by means of at least one screw.

[0016] Assembly of a seat back according to the invention and an object.

[0017] According to the invention, a thin base is secured to said object, said base being inserted into the peripheral groove of the widened attachment head of the elongated clip.

[0018] A seat back according to the invention has the advantage of being able to serve as a base for fixing an object thanks to the implementation of a clever fixing means, which is light and compact. It also has the advantage of being able to permanently retain this means of attachment, without it interfering with the living space of the vehicle occupants. This means of attachment also has the advantage of being able to be handled without having to use a specific tool or engage in restrictive manipulations requiring force and / or precision.

[0019] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a seat back according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a front view of a rear surface of a seat back according to the invention,

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a metal support part of a seat back according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a buffer piece of a file of seat according to the invention,

[0023] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of an area of ​​a frame of a backrest of a seat according to the invention, showing a metal support piece and a buffer piece,

[0024] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of a clip of a seat back according to the invention,

[0025] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is an enlarged view of an area of ​​[Fig.5], showing in section a metal support part, a buffer part and a clip,

[0026] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a sectional view of a clip inserted into the openings of the buffer part and metal support part 7,

[0027] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of [Fig.l] showing a smartphone equipped with a base.

[0028] A vehicle seat backrest 1 according to the invention preferably, but in a non-limiting manner, constitutes the backrest of a seat in a front row of seats, behind which a rear row of seats would be placed. This backrest 1 schematically comprises a front face against which the back of an occupant seated on the seat is intended to rest, and a rear face 2 located opposite a rear row of seats.

[0029] Referring to Figures 1 and 7, this rear face 2 is covered by a covering consisting of a plastic shell 3. This shell 3 comprises a hollow central zone 4, surrounded by a substantially flat peripheral edge 5, said peripheral edge 5 constituting the rearmost part of the backrest 1.

[0030] Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the backrest 1 comprises a frame 6, which is covered by the plastic shell-shaped covering 3.

[0031] Referring to Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6, a metal support piece 7 in the form of an elongated strip of constant width is fixed to said frame 6. This metal support piece 7 comprises: -a first elongated segment 8 and a second segment 9 of reduced length by relative to that of the first elongated segment 8, said first segment 8 and said second segment 9 being placed in the same plane while being aligned with each other. The first segment 8 and the second segment 9 are separated from each other so that they provide a free space between them, -a section 10 having two parallel lateral edges 11, 12 and an end edge 13 joining ends of said two lateral edges 11, 12 while being perpendicular to them. This section 10 defines a U-shaped part and is placed in the space provided between the first elongated segment 8 and the second segment 9 of reduced length, ensuring continuity of the metal support part 7. In this way, the first elongated segment 8 is extended by a lateral edge 11, 12 of the section, which is itself extended by the end edge 13 of said section 10 which extends parallel to said first segment 8.The other lateral edge 11, 12 extends the end edge and opens onto one end of the second segment 9 of reduced length. In other words, the metal support part 7 is a continuous part in which the first segment 8, the second segment 9 and the end edge 13 are parallel, and in which the two lateral edges 11, 12 are perpendicular to the first segment 8, to the second segment 9 and to the end edge 13.

[0032] The first segment 8 and the second segment 9 each have a hole intended for the passage of a screw in order to fix the metal support part 7 to the frame 6 by screwing.

[0033] Referring to Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6, the end edge 13 has a central opening 14 of rectangular shape.

[0034] Referring to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, a plastic buffer part 15 bears against the end edge 13 of the section 10 of the metal support part 7. This buffer part 15 comprises a main body 16 which is flat and rectangular in shape and has an opening 17 which is rectangular in shape. This main body 16 is extended by at least two elastically deformable tabs 18 originating on the edges of said main body 16 delimiting said opening 17, said tabs 18 extending in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the main body 16. The buffer part 15 is fixed to the metal support part 7 by means of an insertion of the tabs 18 into the central opening 14 of the end edge 13 of the metal support part 7, and an elastic deformation of said tabs 18 in said opening 14. The buffer part 15 is thus fixed by clipping into the metal support part 7.The legs 18 of this buffer piece 15 are pushed into the opening 14 of the metal support piece 7 by deforming elastically, until said legs 18 return to their initial shape by relaxation once they have reached the required depth in the metal support piece 7. When the buffer piece 15 is fixed in its final position on the metal support piece 7, the . main body 16 is in close abutment against the end edge 13 of said metal part 7, as is for example illustrated in [Fig.4]. It should be noted that the main body 16 of the buffer part 15 has rounded edges and rounded corners

[0035] Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7, an elongated clip 19 is inserted into the opening 17 of the buffer part 15 once the latter has been fixed by clipping into the metal support part 7. This elongated clip 19 comprises an elongated body 20, an external surface of which has several asperities 21, and an enlarged hooking head 22 extending said cylindrical body 20.

[0036] Referring to [Fig. 5], this enlarged hooking head 22 has a rectangular-shaped outline and has a peripheral groove 23 also having a rectangular shape along the edges delimiting the enlarged hooking head 22. The clip 19 is inserted into the opening 17 of the buffer part 15 and into the opening 14 of the end edge 13 of the metal support part 7. This insertion is carried out manually, at the cost of a certain effort to pass said asperities 21 into said two openings 14, 17 until the enlarged hooking head 22 comes into contact with the main body 16 of said buffer part 15.

[0037] The assembly consisting of the metal support part 7, the buffer part 15 and the clip 19 constitutes a fixing element which will allow an object 24 such as for example a smartphone, an electronic tablet or a pocket to be fixed to the backrest 1. This fixing element is secured to the backrest so that: -the metal support part 7 is covered by the plastic shell 3 constituting the covering of the backrest 1, -the main body 16 of the buffer part 15 and the enlarged hooking head 22 of the clip 19 which is in contact with said main body 16, both emerge from said plastic shell 3 as is for example visible in [Fig.l]

[0038] Referring to [Fig.8], once the fixing element has been secured to the backrest 1 while respecting the two previous conditions, an object 24 can be fixed to the enlarged attachment head 22 of the clip 19 which emerges from the shell 3. A support 25 having a male imprint which is complementary to the female imprint constituted by the peripheral groove 23 of the enlarged attachment head 22 of the clip 19, is previously fixed to the object 24. The support 25 is then inserted into the peripheral groove 23 to hook the object 24 and make it available to the occupants of a rear row of seats placed behind the seat comprising a backrest 1 according to the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Backrest (1) of a vehicle seat, provided with a frame (6) and a covering (3) covering said frame (6), characterized in that at least one metal support part (7) having an opening (14) is fixed to said frame (6), and in that a buffer part (15) made of plastic and having an opening (17) is placed in contact with the support part (7) so that the two openings (14, 17) overlap, an elongated clip (19) having an enlarged hooking head (22) being inserted into the two superimposed openings (14, 17) so that the enlarged hooking head (22) abuts against the buffer part (15) and emerges from the covering (3) covering the metal support part (7) to allow an object (24) to be fixed thereto.

2. Seat back according to claim 1, characterized in that the buffer piece (15) against which the enlarged hooking head (22) abuts emerges from the covering (3).

3. Seat back according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the covering is a plastic shell (3), and in that the enlarged hooking head (22) emerges from a rear face (2) of the back (1).

4. Seat back according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the enlarged hooking head (22) is rectangular in shape and has a peripheral groove (23) extending over the entire perimeter of said hooking head (22), and in that said peripheral groove (23) is intended to cooperate with a base (25) which has been previously fixed to the object (24).

5. Seat backrest according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the buffer piece (15) is rectangular in shape and has dimensions which are greater than those of the enlarged attachment head (22), and in that said buffer piece (15) is delimited by rounded edges and corners.

6. Seat back according to claim 5, characterized in that the buffer piece (15) comprises a main body (16) which is flat and rectangular in shape in which the opening (17) has been made, and in that it comprises at least two elastically deformable tabs (18) originating on the edges of said main body (16) delimiting said opening (17), the fixing of said buffer piece (15) to the metal support piece (7) being carried out by means of an insertion of the tabs (18) in the opening (17) of the metal support part (7) and an elastic deformation of said tabs (18) in said opening (17).

7. Seat backrest according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the metal support piece (7) is a piece having the shape of a flat rectangular strip (8, 9), and in that said support piece (7) comprises a section (10) having two parallel lateral edges (11, 12) and an end edge (13) joining said two lateral edges (11, 12) and comprising the opening (14), said two lateral edges (11, 12) extending perpendicular to the flat rectangular strip (8, 9) and said end edge (13) extending parallel to said rectangular strip (8, 9).

8. Seat back according to claim 7, characterized in that the buffer piece (15) is in contact with the end edge (13), and in that the clip (19) extends parallel to the two parallel lateral edges (11, 12).

9. Seat backrest according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the metal support part (7) is secured to the frame (6) of the backrest (1) by means of at least one screw.

10. Assembly of a seat back according to claim 4 and of an object, characterized in that a base (25) of small thickness is secured to said object (24), and in that said base (25) is inserted into the peripheral groove (23) of the widened attachment head (22) of the elongated clip (19).